when it comes to EER ratings, didn't always mean it was more efficient, the higher the number only meant the thermostat was governed down, giving you a cool room, not icy cold....
nice thing about the older units, you could open it up and adjust your thermostat back up....
this A/C for example could be 'made' to save energy on your own, just by selecting the temp to a number 4 or 5 instead of a 8 or 9.....theres a choice, your way, or theirs....
nothing different than FL machines getting a TIER rating for water efficiency, you had a I, II, or III.....could all be from the same model, but the higher the number, the less water was added for a wash....
the machines were designed to do a better job with less water, it just reduced the amount of water allowed to be added.....