Whats the difference between a SEER rating and a HSPF rating on a heat pump?
A. The SEER rating is the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating, and is a measure of the cooling efficiency of a heat pump or air conditioner. Federal regulations on 1/1/06 will require a SEER of 13 or more for new air conditioners or heat pumps. However, some models score much higher than the minimum, meaning they will save many more energy dollars. The HSPF is the Heating Seasonal Performance Factor which measures the heating efficiency of a heat pump. Federal regulations on 1/1/06 require a HSPF of 6.8 or more for new units. As with SEER ratings, the higher the HSPF, the more energy dollars the heat pump will save.
