| The seasonal energy efficiency ratio, or SEER, is the de facto standard for measuring the seasonal cooling efficiency of residential-scale, unitary air conditioners and heat pumps. SEER is derived under a standard set of conditions and is generally acknowledged to be a poor predictor of air conditioners' actual seasonal cooling efficiency.;Using the DOE-2 building simulation engine, we assess the validity of the major assumptions made during the SEER rating algorithm by investigating the impact of climate, building, and system characteristics on the ability of SEER to predict air conditioners' seasonal cooling efficiency. Parametric studies are performed for all Continental US climates, typical and improved houses specific to each climate, and 53 one- and two-speed split-system air conditioners whose nominal efficiencies vary from SEER 10 to SEER 18.;We demonstrate that the utility of SEER is most significantly limited by climate- and system-related effects for which the SEER rating algorithm does not account. Although climate-based correction factors---developed here for all Continental US climates---can be used to reduce the uncertainty associated with SEER, we argue that the complexity of split-system, unitary air conditioners precludes the ability of SEER-like metrics to predict seasonal cooling efficiency. Rather, accurate prediction of seasonal cooling efficiency requires detailed air conditioner and building models.;A DOE-2.2 two-speed air conditioner model, recently developed by Hirsch et al. (2003), is used throughout this study. The suitability of the model is evaluated using published manufacturers' data. |
