“I’ve got a quote for a 4-ton 13 SEER unit and a 4-ton 15 SEER unit. How do I calculate the 13 SEER vs 15 SEER energy savings ?”
This question is exactly on point. To make an informed decision, we need to take the upfront cost and, even more importantly, energy savings into account. To help you out, we have created a 13 SEER vs 15 SEER Energy Savings Calculator you can freely use. Below the calculator, you will also find calculated 1-year, 10-year, and 20-year energy savings for 1-8 ton AC unit, summarized in a neat chart.
Here is the key efficiency difference between 13 SEER and 15 SEER AC unit:
15 SEER unit is 15.38% more energy efficient than a 13 SEER unit. This can result in more than $1,000 in energy savings in the next 20-years.
Before we check the calculator and chart, let’s have a look at the above example:
We have 4-ton 13 SEER and 4-ton 15 SEER unit. Here is how we can calculate the energy savings, based on 1,000 running hours per year and $0.15/kWh electricity rates:
- 4-ton 13 SEER unit average running wattage is 3,792W. It uses 3.792 kWh every hour. That’s 3,792 kWh per year. If you multiply that by $0.15/kWh electricity rates, that’s $568,80 running cost per year. In 10 years, you will spend $5,688 on electricity, and $11,376 in the next 20 years.
- 4-ton 15 SEER unit average running wattage is 3,200W. It uses 3.2 kWh every hour. That’s 3,200 kWh per year. If you multiply that by $0.15/kWh electricity rates, that’s $480,00 running cost per year. In 10 years, you will spend $4,800 on electricity, and $9,600 in the next 20 years.
Here is how we can calculate the yearly energy savings:
Energy Savings (4 ton, $0.15/kWh) = $568,80 – $480,00 = $88,80
We can see that the 15 SEER unit will produce $88,80/year energy savings. That is $888 in 10 years, and $1,776 in 20 years.
Decision Example (for this situation): If the 15 SEER unit costs $1,000 more than the 13 SEER unit, it is financially viable to pick the 15 SEER unit (since you pay $1,000 more now, but will get $1,776 back in the next 20-year energy savings. If, however, the 13 SEER unit is, say, $2,000 cheaper than the 15 SEER unit, you should opt for the less efficient 13 SEER unit.
Now, these manual calculations are quite lengthy. To shorten them and help you out, you can use the 13 SEER vs 15 SEER calculator below. You insert AC tonnage (4-ton in our example) and electricity price ($0.15/kWh in our example), and you will automatically get 1-year, 10-year, and 20-year savings.
Below the calculator, you will also find a chart for units ranging from 1 ton to 8 tons with calculated 13 vs 15 SEER energy savings (1-year, 10-year, and 20-years) that will help you out. But first, the calculator:
13 SEER Vs 15 SEER Savings Calculator
Here is how to use this 13 SEER vs 15 SEER online saving calculator:
Let’s say you are looking at 3-ton 13 SEER and 15 SEER units. The electricity rates in your area are $0.18/kWh. To calculate savings, just slide the 1st tonnage slider to ‘3’ and the 2nd electricity prices slider to ‘0.18’, and you get the result:
By opting for 15 SEER instead of 13 SEER unit, you will save $66.46/year. That’s $664.62 savings in 10 year, and $1,329.23 savings in 20 years.
Here is the full 13 SEER vs 15 SEER energy savings chart for 1-8 ton AC units at $0.15/kWh electricity rates:
13 SEER Vs 15 SEER Chart For 1-8 Ton AC Units
| Unit Size (Tonnage): | 1-Year Savings ($): | 10-Year Savings ($): | 20-Year Savings ($): |
| 1 Ton | $18.46 Savings Per Year | $184.60 Per 10 Years | $369.20 Per 20 Years |
| 1.5 Ton | $27.69 Savings Per Year | $276.90 Per 10 Years | $553.80 Per 20 Years |
| 2 Ton | $36.92 Savings Per Year | $369.20 Per 10 Years | $738.50 Per 20 Years |
| 2.5 Ton | $46.15 Savings Per Year | $461.50 Per 10 Years | $923.10 Per 20 Years |
| 3 Ton | $55.38 Savings Per Year | $553.80 Per 10 Years | $1,107.70 Per 20 Years |
| 3.5 Ton | $64.62 Savings Per Year | $646.20 Per 10 Years | $1,292.30 Per 20 Years |
| 4 Ton | $73.85 Savings Per Year | $738.50 Per 10 Years | $1,476.90 Per 20 Years |
| 5 Ton | $92.31 Savings Per Year | $923.10 Per 10 Years | $1,846.20 Per 20 Years |
| 6 Ton | $110.77 Savings Per Year | $1,107.70 Per 10 Years | $2,215.40 Per 20 Years |
| 7 Ton | $129.23 Savings Per Year | $1,292.30 Per 10 Years | $2,584.60 Per 20 Years |
| 8 Ton | $147.69 Savings Per Year | $1,476.90 Per 10 Years | $2,953.80 Per 20 Years |
You can see that 15 SEER units can produce these energy savings (compared to 13 SEER units):
- $18.46 to $147.69 per year.
- $184.60 to $1,476.90 in 10 years.
- $369.20 to $$2,953.80 in 20 years.
With this 13 SEER vs 15 SEER comparison, you can now make an informed decision on the most financially viable unit. If you need some help, you can use the comment section below, give us some figures, and we can do some calculations for you.