With a few more months of hot summer weather ahead, many homeowners across California could benefit from replacing their air conditioners with high-efficiency units. CaliforniaFIRST PACE financing is helping homeowners all over the state to install high efficiency ACs and other fantastic clean energy upgrades. PACE (Property Assessed Clean Energy) financing allows homeowners to make energy upgrades to their home at no upfront cost. Other benefits of our program include:
- 100% financing
- Flexible repayment terms
- Fast, efficient application & approvals
- …and more!
Here are a few things to consider when choosing a new high efficiency air conditioner for your home:
Benefits of a high efficiency AC
The best AC units are designed to create comfortable, safe living spaces for homeowners while using minimal energy. Efficient air conditioning units come with a multitude of benefits. High efficiency units require less energy to run when compared to traditional units, meaning utility bill savings for homeowners. Additionally, these top-quality air conditioners are more durable than their traditional counterparts, meaning they have a longer lifespan, require fewer repairs, and even run more quietly than do conventional units.
Your new AC unit: what to look for
It’s definitely time to consider an upgrade if your current unit is more than 10 years old, if it’s not cooling as efficiently as it once was, or if your summer utility bills are steadily increasing. Homeowners considering an AC upgrade should take efficiency, size, and feasibility (where the unit will go and how to install it) into consideration. Having your current unit evaluated by a certified HVAC contractor is a great place to start – your contractor will help you decide if it’s time for an upgrade, the best place to install your unit, the optimal size for your new unit, and how best to connect the areas (or “zones”) of your home for maximum cooling efficiency. To make shopping for an efficient air conditioner a bit easier for customers, all units by law have to be measured by an efficiency rating. This measurement, known as the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Rating (SEER), is the ratio of cooling a unit provides to the energy it consumes in a given amount of time. The higher the SEER rating, the more efficient the unit. Many older units have SEER ratings of 6 or lower; the minimum SEER rating required for new AC installs today is 13. To qualify for PACE financing, a unit must have at least a 14.0 SEER rating.
Installation matters!
Even the highest-quality AC will not perform well if it’s not installed properly. At CaliforniaFIRST, we’ve established a network of registered contractors across California to make sure your high efficiency air conditioner is installed correctly and set up to provide the best cooling for your home. Our partnering contractors meet the highest standards for installation and service work and will ensure that your new AC unit is installed flawlessly, allowing it to run as efficiently as possible. Interested in making an efficient upgrade for your cooling needs this summer? Check your eligibility for our financing or call 844-589-7953 today to get started!
