This special report provides an overview of the policy changes being considered by the Federal Government to improve the energy efficiency ratings of air conditioners and chillers.
A Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) was prepared in consultation with industry outlining a range of options for chillers and air conditioners of all sizes including options for single duct unitary products.
Industry submissions responding to the RIS closed last month with a final Decision RIS is expected later this year.
The RIS proposes the introduction of a ‘zoned’ Energy Rating Label (ERL) that provides location specific information on energy efficiency, harmonisation of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and regulations, as well as the inclusion of single duct portable air conditioners in the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) program.
Speaking at the information sessions attended by industry, representatives from the Department of Industry, Innovation and Science, admitted that the current rating method for the ERL is not a good indicator of likely real-world performance.
“The overall performance of air conditioners is not captured by the current rating method and this is largely due to significant changes to AC technology in recent years,” the RIS said.
“Variable speed products dominate the market today and have replaced fixed speed units. Zoned ratings are necessary because climate impacts on the performance of an air conditioner especially in cold temperatures.”
The RIS investigates the costs and benefits of adopting a Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) as this will take into account a product’s energy efficiency performance across all temperatures over the course of a year. The SEER test method is already used in the US, China, EU, Japan, South Korea, Canada and many other trading partners.
There is also considerable scope to simplify current labelling parameters.
The lack of ERL information on most ducted units and the difficulty in comparing the energy efficiency of different models is a common complaint.
Adopting the SEER test standard and Zoned Label for rating the energy efficiency of air conditioners will not result in any change to existing MEPS requirements.
Moreover, the Zoned Label will be applied to portable air conditioners as well as double duct portables and single duct portables.
Noise generated by air conditioners is another area of consumer complaint that is being addressed with the implementation of a national noise labelling scheme. While NSW and WA have schemes in place, Queensland and Victoria removed their schemes in preparation for a national program that has stalled.
Provisions for noise information to consumers will be covered under the proposed Zoned Energy Rating Label.
There is also a need for greater cohesion when it comes to energy efficiency regulations as they are currently split between the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Act and National Construction Code (NCC).
Chillers
The local standard for chillers AS/NZS 4776 was abandoned in 2013 as it didn’t cover all technology types and was causing difficulties for regulators.
As a result, the Federal Government is looking to adopt the USA’s Air-Conditioning, Heating and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI) 550/590 standard.
Around 73 per cent of current GEMS chiller registrations rely on AHRI certification.
“Adoption of the AHRI test standard for Australia is preferable to adopting the EU’s Eurovent,” the RIS states. “This is because the new European test standard uses different testing and rating points to the current Australian and US test points. Adopting it would require all current registrations to submit new test reports to these different rating points.”
The US test standard for chillers is also aimed at reducing regulatory costs for suppliers.
Fees under review
Importers, manufacturers or suppliers of products that are regulated for energy efficiency under the GEMS Act are required to register their products and are charged a fee.
The registration fees collected by the Federal Government recover part of the costs of providing a product registration service and the compliance monitoring and enforcement program required under the Act.
GEMS registration fees are now being reviewed. Stakeholders are invited to provide input to the review through written submissions by April 15, 2016.