Are you considering replacing your inefficient or broken heating, venting, and air conditioning (HVAC) system? HVAC systems use nearly 50 percent of a home’s energy consumption, so the equipment’s energy efficiency has a direct effect on your electric bills. When purchasing a new HVAC system, discuss the Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) with your installation contractor or PEC representative. The SEER helps you calculate the annual cooling costs of a particular system. It works much like a vehicle’s miles-per-gallon rating: the higher the SEER, the less expensive the system is to operate. Download information about our HVAC Rebate Program for retrofitting systems, or call PEC for more details. We paid more than $986,000 in rebates to members who upgraded their HVAC systems in 2009, so if you're thinking about upgrading your system, a simple phone call could mean big savings.