DOE BTU vs ASHRAE

When it comes to portable air conditioners, the systems used to rate them, namely DOE BTU vs ASHRAE BTU, have many differences. The acronyms themselves can be confusing for consumers. However, both DOE and ASHRAE use different measurements.

Read on to learn what these abbreviations mean and how they measure the efficiency of your portable air conditioner. We’ve also listed other abbreviations at the bottom of this article that may be helpful in your search.

Of course, if you’re in the market for a new unit, check our picks for the best air conditioners. You may also be interested in comparing box fans vs air conditioners.

DOE vs ASHRAE: How Are They Different?

The most significant difference between the DOE and ASHRAE rating systems is the association or department that set the standards and when they did so. Additionally, you can find differences in how ratings are used and the testing they undergo.

If you aren’t sure which A/C system to choose, keep reading. Just remember, these ratings are specific to cooling your house. They do not represent any additional settings, such as dry mode vs cool mode on an air conditioner. You should also check out similar acronyms that you may see on portable AC packaging.

Alternatively, we do have some brands and models to recommend including the Hisense air conditioner vs LG, Whynter ARC 14sh vs Toyomi Tad T40LW air conditioner, 4-ton vs 5-ton air conditioner, in-wall air conditioners vs window units, and the evaporative air cooler vs a portable air conditioner.

Application

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) felt that portable air conditioners needed their own rating system, which led to the creation of the DOE British Thermal Unit (BTU.) We measure heating and cooling power in BTUs, with one ton equalling 12,000 BTU per hour of cooling. Some experts recommend using the DOE rating to determine the best air conditioner when the choice depends on your square footage.

Before this system, the efficiency of portable units was measured using the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioner Engineer (ASHRAE) guidelines. These rules were pre-determined for window air conditioners, and the two types of ACs shared the same methodology.

Testing

The DOE believed there were several inefficiencies specific to portable units that existed within the old rating system, including mixture and infiltration of unconditioned air. To address these issues, the DOE proposed new testing standards using a calorimeter and a few other measurement devices.

These new testing methods require portable window AC units to undergo a series of tests that include airflow monitoring, ducts, and additional instrumentation. This is done alongside the ANSI/ASHRAE standard to determine the cooling capacity of window ACs and portable air conditioners. Then, the collected values are combined with the measured infiltration of heat and humidity deductions to create the DOE rating for the unit. As a result, the DOE rating is typically less than the ASHRAE rating.

Additional Acronyms You’ll Find On AC Units

• The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) tracks and coordinates various standards and conformity within a wide range of systems, including those used to rate ACs.
• Before you start your portable air conditioning system search, ‌consider the minimum efficiency rating value (MERV) for your designated air conditioner size. This rating represents the minimum requirement for the unit to be ENERGY STAR certified.
• The seasonal energy efficiency rating (SEER), similar to the seasonally adjusted cooling capacity (SACC,) states the average rating for the AC unit, taking into consideration the effects of the season and climate on the system’s efficiency. SEER is typically used on central AC units, so you may not encounter this abbreviation. However, SACC may be listed on each portable air conditioner model.
• You may also see references to the combined energy efficiency ratio (CEER) in the DOE BTU standard documentation. CEER combines the rating system of SEER with an additional efficiency rating when the system is on standby.

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