Instructions: Read the information and study the graphs below to answer the following questions.

In 2022, air conditioning used approximately 7% of the world’s electricity. If the number of AC units in the world triples by 2050, will energy demand triple too? It depends on how efficient they are. 

A key barrier is upfront costs. Efficient units often pay off because they are cheaper to run, but this doesn’t help if consumers can’t afford the higher cost upfront. Another barrier is the lack of efficiency standards in some countries, along with a lack of a consistent labeling system that makes efficiency ratings clear to the consumer buying the system.

Typical Efficiency Upgrade Costs

The table below shows the typical price differences U.S. homeowners see when choosing higher-efficiency options compared to standard systems. These ranges reflect common residential installations and represent incremental cost, not total system price. Incremental cost means the extra money you pay to get a more efficient system compared to a basic system, not the full price of the system. SEER stands for Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio, and measures the cooling efficiency of an air conditioner or heat pump. The higher the SEER rating, the more energy efficient the system is.

Question 1: According to the first graph, how does the efficiency of the average air conditioner people buy compare to the most efficient models available?

Question 2: Give two reasons why people might choose air conditioners that are less efficient, even when more efficient options exist.

Question 3: Based on the first graph, which regions seem to have access to higher efficiency air conditioners? What might this suggest about income levels and regulations?

Question 4: What do you think would happen to global electricity use if most new AC units sold were 20+ SEER?

Question 5: If you were buying an air conditioner for your home, what factors (cost, efficiency, long-term savings) would matter most to you, and why?