Nobody likes feeling hot. This is why most of us spend our summers trying to find ways to beat the heat. The most common solution is air conditioning; in fact, in the summer in the U.S., nearly half of the country's energy use is devoted to running the AC.

If we factor in the heating system as well, climate control accounts for 48% of a house's annual energy costs. That's no small amount of money, and no small issue as far as energy efficiency and carbon reduction as well.

Increasingly, a population newly aware of the costs, both financial and ecological, of energy overuse is turning to environmentally friendly heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and technicians. Although personal choices for energy savings, like carefully watching the thermostat and only using the AC when it is needed, can help, there's only so far you can get trying to save the planet and your pocketbook with inadequate tools.

Eventually, if you're serious about saving energy, you'll need to look at different kinds of HVAC, and consider swapping out older and less efficient models for a newer, greener one.

The following infographic was prepared by the experts at Ambient Edge Heating/Air Conditioning and Refrigeration. It summarizes important information about how energy efficiency is measured in commercial HVAC systems. With it, you can understand what the ratings on modern units actually mean, as well as know what to look for when it is time to hire an HVAC service team to install and maintain your system. Take a look, and make the informed choice.