Using The

Air Conditioning Carbon Footprint Calculator

It seems that everywhere we turn, we hear environmentalists warning that global warming will doom
our planet unless we do something dramatic. Despite the rhetoric that the science has been
settled, there is still debate about man's role in the warming of the planet. Whether you take
the former or the latter position is irrelevant.
Replacing an old, inefficient air conditioner with a new, 13 SEER or higher model can yield
drastic reduction in a homeowner's "carbon footprint."
The carbon footprint calculator uses the following formulas
The emissions factor is a constant, provideded by the U.S. EPA, based on the mix of power plant
fuels used for electricity. The emissions factor is based on North American electricity grid.
Even though the emissions factor might vary for a local market, the grid is interconnected and
electricity is fungible, which means a consumer's electricity reduction ultimately reduces
generation by the national average.
Demand (Watts) = Capacity (Btu) / SEER
Energy Consumption (kWh) = Demand (Watts) X Cooling Load Hours
Carbon Footprint (Lbs of Carbon) = Energy Consumption (kWh) X Emissions Factor
2007 Service Roundtable
Air Conditioning Carbon Footprint Calculator
Enter the capacity of the air conditioner
in Btuh: 36,000 Btuh 36,000 Btuh
You can enter nominal or actual.
Enter the nameplate SEER when new: 8 SEER 13 SEER
This is the theoretical SEER, based on the limited test
laboratory test points required for product certification.
Estimate the reduction in SEER due to
installation & performance degradation
over time: 2 SEER - SEER
Rarely will an air conditioner operate in the field at the
nameplate efficiency rating. Lab conditions are ideal. Field
conditions are not. Lab tests are based on a limited number of
repeatable test points. Field conditions run the gamut of
operating conditions. Lab installations are perfect by design.
Field installations typically fall very short of perfection. Lab
test feature new equipment. In the field equipment
performance degrades over time (and without maintenance
degrades faster and farther). Thus, average operating SEER
always falls short of lab conditions when new and becomes
worse with time. Estimate the SEER reduction.
Operating SEER: 6 SEER 13 SEER
This is the actual estimated operating SEER.
Demand: 6,000 Watts 2,769 Watts
This demand is the watts of electricity drawn by the air
conditioner when on.
Enter Cooling Load Hours: 1,800 Hours 1,800 Hours
The cooling load hours is the number of hours an air
conditioner will normally run over the course of a year for a
geographical area.
Annual Energy Consumption: 10,800 kWh 4,985 kWh
The annual energy consumption is the amount of electricity
consumed by the air conditioner over a year's time.
Emissions Factor: 1.37 1.37
The emissions factor is supplied by the EPA and represents a
blended average of the carbon content resulting in electricity
generation nationwide.
Air Conditioner Carbon Footprint: 14,796 Lbs of Carbon 6,829 Lbs of Carbon
Carbon Footprint Reduction: Lbs
2007 Service Roundtable
7,967