13 SEER & Earth Day: Working Together To Improve the Environment (NAPSA)—The 35th anniver- sary of Earth Day will take place on April 22. Through the combined efforts of government, ween a el grassroots organizations and envi- ronmentally minded companies, Earth Day has evolved into a worldwide campaignto protect the global environment. In the U.S., the Department of Energy (DOE) is also concerned about protecting our environ- ment and resources. To address these issues, the DOE recently issued a mandate that now requires all new, central air con- ditioners manufactured after January 23, 2006, to have a seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) of at least 13. SEER is a number similar to miles-per-gallon in cars; the higher the SEER, the more efficient your air-conditioning system. According to the DOE, the 13 SEER standard is forecasted to save the nation 4.2 quads (quadrillion British Thermal Units) of energy over 25 years (2006 through 2030). This is equivalent to the energy consumed by nearly 26 million American households in one year. The To protect the environment, the manufacturers of some new air conditioners exceed the 13 SEER level required by the Department of Energy. 10 SEER units and require as much as 40 percent morerefrigerant than many indoor coils are capable of holding. It becomes very important, then, to match the size of the indoor coil with the new, larger outdoor unit. A mismatched system can lead to lower comfort levels, a higher utility bill, increased stress on the save consumers$1 billion over the system and large repair costs. A qualified dealer can make sure your system is matched and installed correctly andis efficient and economicalto operate. So, if you are considering replac- that reach 15 and even 18 SEER. Much of the improved effi- in your home, talk to the experts at York. They can help you select a qualified dealer, who is equipped to maintain, repair and/or replace the components of your system. To learn more, visit the York Web site at www.yorkupg.com, or call (800) standards are also expected to sameperiod.” Manufacturerslike the Unitary Products Group of York—a Johnson Controls Company, haven’t stopped at 13 SEER. York also offers new home-cooling systems ciency associated with 13 SEER units is the result of an increase in the surface of the coil found in a system’s outdoor unit, which is used to transport refrigerant. As a result, these outdoor units can be 50 to 90 percent larger than ing or upgrading the HVAC system 910-YORK to receive a brochure and companion DVDentitled, “13 SEER—WhatYou Need To Know.” “From the U.S. Department of Energy Web site: http: //www.ee re.energy.gou / consumer | news_det ail.cfm /news_id=9566.
