Appliance makers are gearing up to push new energy-efficient systems in the wake of an energy bill..

Appliance makers are gearing up to push new energy-efficient systems in the wake of an energy bill that offers tax credits to homeowners who upgrade to electricity-saving appliances. In air conditioning, industry giant Carrier Corporation ays it has invested $250 million in developing new heat exchangers-a major component in air-conditioners-that use less energy and are about 20% smaller and 30% lighter than current energy-saving versions. Carrier s current energy-efficient models are almost double the size of its regular central air-conditioning units. The company speculates that this model s bulk may have been a deterrent for homeowners. The new air conditioners were expected to hit the market in the first quarter of 2010. Cooling efficiency is measured by a standard tailed SEER: Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio. It s land of like the gas mileage system used on cars- the higher the number, the more money you save. Older systems had SEER numbers as low as 8; the new Carrier systems are rated at 18! (Federal standards required a minimum SEER of 13 from January 2006.) Translated into operating costs, this Bans means that for every $100 you used to spend on electricity for cooling, you now can spend just $39. There are several issues involved in Carrier s pushing more efficient air-conditioning units. First, the market demand is difficult to estimate. Second, it seven more difficult to predict the useful life of the product, as market competition is ever increasing, Carrier