What is SEER2?
SEER2 (Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio 2) measures how efficiently a heat pump or air conditioner cools over a full season. It's the cooling counterpart to HSPF2, which measures heating. A higher SEER2 means you get the same comfort for less electricity, and that shows up directly on your summer power bill.
How to read a SEER2 number
SEER2 replaced the older SEER rating in 2023 with a tougher, more realistic test. Because the test changed, the same equipment scores a little lower on SEER2 than it did on the old SEER scale, so comparing a SEER2 number against an older SEER spec sheet will only mislead you. Compare SEER2 to SEER2.
SEER2 vs HSPF2 at a glance
| SEER2 | HSPF2 | |
|---|---|---|
| Measures | Cooling efficiency | Heating efficiency |
| Season rated | Cooling season | Heating season |
| Higher number means | Less electricity to cool | Less electricity to heat |
| Matters most for | Cooling-heavy, hotter climates | Heating-heavy, colder climates |
A heat pump carries both numbers because it does both jobs.
How Jetson Air compares
Jetson designs its own equipment, Jetson Air, and benchmarks it against the systems homeowners already know. Stephen Lake puts it directly:
"Performance-wise we're, I think, on par or exceeding the Mitsubishi Hyper Heat on all core metrics like HSPF2 and SEER ratings." (listen, 40:52)
Curious what an efficient system would run for your home? Jetson lets you see what an efficient system would cost for your home from your address, without scheduling an in-home visit. If you are still getting your head around the basics, how a heat pump works is a good primer.
Common questions
Is a higher SEER2 always worth it? Not on its own. Efficiency pays off most when the system is also sized correctly (see Manual J), because an oversized high-SEER2 unit still wastes energy.
What counts as a good SEER2? Modern variable-speed heat pumps generally land well above the federal minimum, though the exact number depends on the model and how it's configured.