Nonetheless, through the end of May, nearly 32 percent of industry split-system shipments were below 13 SEER, according to Al Knight, product manager for split-systems for Amana and Goodman products at Goodman Manufacturing. Only 13.8 percent of industry shipments were 14 SEER and higher, he added.
Both component suppliers and unitary system manufacturers are working to develop equipment with higher SEER ratings than they presently offer. Some suggest that reaching beyond the present levels may depend in part on more advanced technician training and in part on technology already employed outside the North American air conditioning industry.