EER / SEER (AC efficiency ratings)

EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) and SEER (Seasonal EER) are the numbers that measure how much cooling an AC delivers per unit of electricity it uses — the higher the figure, the less it costs to run for the same cooling. The difference is the test: EER is measured at one fixed condition, while SEER averages performance across a range of conditions (a *seasonal* figure), which is why the two numbers differ for the same unit. In Dubai the AC runs most of the year, often at extreme outdoor temperatures, so efficiency feeds almost directly into the DEWA bill — worth checking when you buy or replace a unit, alongside the right ton of refrigeration for the room. One honest caveat: the rating is a lab number. Real-world efficiency also depends on correct sizing, a clean install and maintenance — a fouled condenser coil or a clogged filter quietly drops the effective efficiency well below the sticker — which is a big part of why regular AC repair and maintenance pays for itself on the bill, keeping a unit close to its rated efficiency instead of drifting below it. Efficiency bodies such as the International Energy Agency track how much of a building's energy cooling consumes in hot climates.