Florida SEER2 Requirements for New AC Systems (2026)

Florida's minimum SEER2 for a new central AC

Florida is in the U.S. Department of Energy's Southeast region, which also covers Alabama, Arkansas, Delaware, Georgia, Hawaii, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, D.C. and Puerto Rico. Since January 1, 2023, central air conditioners installed there must meet these minimums:

There is no separate EER2 requirement for split air conditioners in the Southeast; that applies in the Southwest region. Because the AC standard is enforced at installation, a system that does not meet the minimum cannot be installed in Florida, no matter when or where it was bought.

Do our systems meet Florida's SEER2 rules?

Yes. Every Goodman R-32 system we stock is AHRI-certified at or above the Florida minimum for its size:

The rating belongs to the matched pair, not the outdoor unit alone. The same condenser paired with a different coil or air handler can rate lower. Always check the AHRI reference number for the exact combination being installed. Some online listings show 3 ton bundles at 13.4 SEER2, which is below the Florida minimum.

SEER vs SEER2: what changed

SEER2 is the same idea as SEER (seasonal cooling efficiency) measured with a tougher test. The 2023 test procedure uses higher external static pressure to better reflect real ductwork, so the same equipment scores a lower number under SEER2. As a rule of thumb, 14.3 SEER2 is roughly equal to the old 15 SEER, and 13.8 SEER2 is roughly 14.5 SEER.

Cooling energy use scales with 1 / SEER2. The chart above shows how much less energy higher-rated systems use compared with a 14.3 SEER2 system. Going from 14.3 to 16 SEER2 cuts cooling energy by about 11%.

Is a higher SEER2 worth it in Florida?

Sometimes. Air conditioning uses about 30% of a Florida home's electricity, so efficiency matters more here than in most states. But the savings from each step up are modest, and a right-sized system matters more than a high rating. Also check rebate thresholds: FPL's $200 AC rebate requires 15.2 SEER2 or higher and installation by an FPL participating contractor. Our single-stage Goodman systems (14.0 to 14.5 SEER2) do not qualify. See Florida AC rebates in 2026.