ST. LOUIS - Emerson Climate Technologies, a business of Emerson, has announced the availability of its "Quick Facts on 13 SEER" handout for contractors. The handout is designed for use by contractors to help explain the new efficiency standard and its possible effect on residential systems to homeowners. The handout also features a chart that helps homeowners estimate their annual electric bill savings if they upgrade to a 13 SEER system. It is available for download at www.emersonclimatecontractor.com.

Emerson's recent 2005 Home Air Conditioning Test, a national survey of homeowners with central air conditioning, found that 90 percent of homeowners do not know the efficiency rating of their central air conditioning system and are unaware that new air conditioners soon must meet a higher minimum federal efficiency standard. The survey also found that 55 percent of those homeowners unaware of the efficiency rating say they are concerned that they had not heard of this new mandate. Eighty percent of all the homeowners also said there is a need for more consumer education on the upcoming transition to 13 SEER.

"These results echo the findings of our 13 SEER surveys, which show that contractors are very concerned about homeowners' understanding of the 13 SEER transition and that they need tools to help them explain the new efficiency regulation to their customers," said Karl Zellmer, vice president of air conditioning sales for Emerson's Copeland Corporation. "We've developed this handout so when homeowners question why the price of a unit has increased or why their entire unit needs to be replaced, contractors have something they can give to homeowners that helps explain the new regulation."