ShareLatest trends in global energy-saving regulations
In the February issue of its journal, JARN presents an outlook of the latest trends in global energy-saving regulations and standards regarding air conditioners.
In developed countries, energy efficiency ratio (EER) has been commonly adopted as an index for evaluating energy-saving performance. However, inverter type units that can curtail electricity consumption according to load fluctuations, enjoy advantages in regions with sharp cooling and heating loads throughout the year. So, there was a tendency toward adopting “seasonal efficiency” as an index for evaluating energy-saving performance of air conditioners instead of evaluating solely on rated performance. Japan adopted the annual performance factor (APF); the United States, the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER); and straight cooling regions, such as Southeast Asia, the cooling seasonal performance factor (CSPF), respectively. In the European Union, the Ecodesign Directive is the world’s first regulation to require environmental-conscious product design during the entire life cycle from acquiring raw materials to product disposal. It has been adopted by the regions surrounding the EU.
Concerning developing countries, CSPF adoption has accelerated in Asian countries. In Hong Kong, Taiwan, Vietnam, the Philippines, Malaysia, and India, there has either been a shift from energy efficiency ratio (EER) to CSPF or a commitment to shift. In Thailand, SEER was adopted for inverter units. In Latin America, Brazil made minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) mandatory in 2008 and was soon followed by Argentina, Chile and Mexico and by Uruguay and Columbia in 2016. In Africa, Kenya announced energy-labeling MEPS regulations in July 2016 that will be made mandatory in July 2017. Egypt also announced energy-labeling regulations in November 2016 (mandatory in May 2017).
JARN, February 25, 2017