New Atlanta discount heating & air conditioning (HVAC) services company overcome by business in opening week

GDO Report

New government restrictions in the air conditioning industry known as "Seer 13*" (outlined below) went into effect on January 1st, forcing an approximate 50% increase in all HVAC equipment and repairs.  For example, before the increase, a low end replacement of an HVAC unit was a minimum of $3,000.  Now, with the new regulations, that same repair will cost approximately $4,500.

The company's plan is simple.  To help Atlanta area consumers save a great deal of money on their AC services by utilizing their founder's 20 years of experience in the heating and air conditioning business, combined with the purchasing power of their enormous customer base. 

One way they'll be lowering their customers repair bill is through lower advertising costs.  Typical HVAC vendors in Atlanta spend hundreds of thousands of dollars each year on advertising.  They recoup that expense by adding an average of $500 to every sale.  AC Locators advertise only Online, adding only pennies to the cost of each sale.

AC Locators won't be doing any of the repair and replacement work themselves.  They'll be relying on the many reputable service providers that have been in the area for decades.  Their sole function will be to help customers find the best deals possible on all their HVAC needs.

For more information, you can call (770) 831-6795 for pricing or to make an appointment. 

You can also download more information about AC Locators new discount service by clicking here:  AC-LocatorsAd1.gif

* Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards:

SEER 13 vs. SEER 12

From 1990 to 2000, appliance efficiency standards reduced consumer energy bills by approximately 50 billion dollars.  As of 2000, the standards reduced U.S. carbon emissions from fossil fuel consumption by nearly two percent. While equipment prices have modestly risen under the standards, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory research indicates that the benefit energy savings are more than three times the cost on a net-present value basis. In 2000, standards reduced the peak generating needs by approximately 21,000 megawatts (MW), which is the same as seventy 300 MW power plants. As old appliances are replaced by new ones the positive impact of the energy efficiency standards will continue to grow. From 1990 to 2030, it is estimated that consumers and businesses will save approximately $186 billion (1997 dollars) just from the existing standards that have been adopted. Currently, the debate concerning appliance efficiency standards has revolved around the Bush Administration’s proposal to weaken the standard for air conditioners from the SEER 13 standard set by the Clinton Administration to a SEER 12.   

What is SEER? How does it apply to the energy efficiency of air conditioners?

The efficiency of central air conditioning units is governed by U.S. law and regulated by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). Every air conditioning unit is assigned an efficiency rating known as its “seasonal energy efficiency ratio” (SEER). The SEER is defined as the total cooling output (in British thermal units or Btu) provided by the unit during its normal annual usage period divided by its total energy input (in watt-hours) during the same period.

Why is air conditioner efficiency currently an issue?

After finalizing a seven-year public review process, the Clinton Administration improved the air conditioner efficiency standard from SEER 10, which was established by Congress in 1987, to SEER 13. The change from SEER 10 to SEER 13 represented a 30 percent improvement in energy efficiency.  The Clinton Administration decision required all new air conditioning equipment sold in the United States to comply with the SEER 13 standard by January 2006. In April 2001, however, the Bush Administration addressed the possibility of weakening the standard to SEER 12, and in July, DOE formally proposed to roll back the standard.

Prior to the August recess, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 4, the “Securing America’s Future Energy (SAFE) Act of 2001.”  In H.R. 4, the House followed the Bush Administration and passed a weakened standard for air conditioners of SEER 12, instead of SEER 13.

In October 2001, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) officially commented on the DOE proposed roll back ruling.  EPA stated that DOE overstated the regulatory burden and the financial pressures on the air conditioning industry and understated the savings benefits of the SEER 13 standard.  The Deputy Administrator of EPA stated, “EPA believes there is a strong rationale to support a 13 SEER standard.”      

The issue of SEER 13 vs. SEER 12 now stands before the Senate to be addressed when the “Energy Policy Act of 2002” (S.517) is considered on the Senate floor.  S.517 contains a provision setting a SEER 13 air conditioner efficiency standard (Sec. 927), but a motion to strike or weaken Sec. 927 is expected.

What is gained in making a SEER 13 standard rather than a SEER 12?

According to EPA, a SEER 13 standard represents a 30 percent increase in minimum energy efficiency requirements for air conditioners, in contrast to a 20 percent increase with a SEER 12 standard.  According to DOE, 4.2 quadrillion Btu, or quads of energy, will be saved between 2006 and 2030 by a SEER 13 standard. 4.2 quads of energy is the equivalent to the annual energy use of 26 million U.S. households, which has a net savings of approximately $1 billion to the consumer by 2020. On the other hand, a SEER 12 standard will only save three quads of energy during the same time period. 

A SEER 13 standard will also accomplish more in reducing fossil fuel consumption and limiting air pollution. The construction of 39 400-megawatt power plants will be avoided by adopting the SEER 13 standard, which will reduce smog forming nitrous oxides (NOx) emissions by up to 85,000 metric tons and cutting greenhouse gas emissions (the gases responsible for global warming) by up to 33 million metric tons (Mt) of carbon. In contrast, a SEER 12 standard would only avoid the construction of 27 400-megawatts power plants, reducing 73,000 metric tons of NOx and 24 Mt of carbon. Power plants are major sources of greenhouse gases and the emissions that cause smog, acid rain and soot pollution. At a time when many areas throughout this nation are struggling to improve their air quality and public health the differences in avoided emissions between SEER 13 and SEER 12 are significant. Since air conditioners run most on hot days, the rollback would increase pollution precisely when air quality problems are at their worst.