EER

Eer is a three-letter sequence in English that also functions as a productive suffix in many words. As a suffix, -eer names a person associated with or performing a particular activity. Common examples include engineer, pioneer, auctioneer, musketeer, and volunteer. The suffix derives from the French -ier, introduced to English via Old French and Middle English, and it is used to form occupational or role-based nouns. Not all -eer words share a common verb root, but they typically convey the sense of a person linked to a task or profession.

In modern usage, the letters EER also stand for several specialized terms. In heating, ventilation, and air conditioning, Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) is a measure of cooling efficiency. It is calculated as cooling output in BTU per hour divided by electrical input in watts, using standard testing conditions. Higher EER values indicate greater efficiency, and EER is distinct from SEER, which is averaged over a season.

In nutrition and public health, Estimated Energy Requirement (EER) is an individualized estimate of daily energy intake needed to maintain energy balance, taking into account age, sex, weight, height, and physical activity. These values appear in dietary guidelines and nutrition assessments.

Context determines which meaning of EER is intended. As a suffix, eer contributes to a large family of agent-noun formations; as an acronym, EER signals energy-related efficiency or requirements in technical fields.