Energy Efficiency Regulations

Room Air Conditioners

First Bulletin on Amending the Standards

ecoACTION Using Less Living Better.

March 2009

Room air conditioners (room AC) are prescribed as regulated products under Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations). Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) proposes to amend the Regulations and require dealers to comply with more stringent minimum energy performance standards for room air conditioners that are imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada.

The purpose of this bulletin is present proposed changes to the Regulations with respect to minimum efficiency requirements for room AC.

This bulletin attempts to put the proposed amendment in plain language. The legal text of the amendment will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part I.

Background

The existing minimum efficiency requirements for room AC have been in place since January 1, 2003. Recently, NRCan has assessed the economics and technical feasibility of increasing the minimum efficiency levels in the Regulations.

ENERGY STAR qualified models exceed the minimum efficiency requirements of the existing Regulations by about 10%. Most room AC models sold operate either at the existing minimum efficiency or at the ENERGY STAR performance levels. In 2006, ENERGY STAR qualified room AC accounted for about 40% of shipments into Canada.

Technical changes required to increase efficiency are well understood. Higher efficiency can be achieved with larger heat exchangers and with more efficient compressors. Manufacturers now use or plan to use alternative refrigerants in anticipation of the 2010 ban on new equipment using HCFC R-22 refrigerant.

Ontario and Quebec are the largest markets for room AC, with about 80% of sales. The sales of window room AC have increased from about 120,000 in 2001 to 540,000 in 2006. Although annual sales may also be affected by variations in summer weather, it is clear that annual sales have increased greatly over this 5 year period.

NRCan uses a cost-benefit analysis to determine the economic attractiveness of higher efficiency equipment. Improved efficiency provides positive benefits to Canadians. The proposed higher efficiency levels would provide paybacks of about 2 years in Ontario and Quebec. The region with the longest payback period of about 7 years is British Columbia. Geographically weighted according to sales, projected electricity savings range from 30 to 165 kWh per year. Significant peak demand reduction of about 35 MW / year can also be achieved with the proposed higher efficiency requirements for room AC. When peak demand for electricity is reduced, this will delay the need for new generating capacity.

Product Description

No changes are proposed to the type and size of equipment already covered in the Regulations. Room AC includes window and through-the-wall (TTW) air conditioners with cooling capacity up to 36,000 btu/h. Reverses cycle (heat pump) equipment is included although the number of models sold in Canada is very limited. Room AC efficiency is rated by the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER).

Proposed Minimum Performance Levels

NRCan proposes to increase the minimum efficiency performance by about 10% to the ENERGY STAR requirements for most window and TTW equipment as shown in Table 1 below.

The following equipment has no ENERGY STAR efficiency levels, therefore:

  • For TTW AC with Reverse cycle <14,000 btu/h, the proposed level minimum efficiency level is EER 9.2. This efficiency level would remove 2 of 12 models currently available.
  • For TTW <6000 btu/h without reverse cycle, and without any available models at present, the proposed minimum efficiency level is EER 9.9.
Table 1. Proposed Minimum Efficiency Requirements
Product class and cooling output (Btu/h) Minimum EER
EER = Energy Efficiency Ratio
With louvered sides and without reverse cycle

Less than 6 000

10.7

6 000 to 7 999

10.7

8 000 to 13 999

10.8

14 000 to 19 999

10.7

20 000 and over

9.4
With louvered sides and with reverse cycle

Less than 20 000

9.9

20 000 or more

9.5
Without louvered sides (TTW) and without reverse cycle

Less than 6 000

9.9

6000 to 7999

9.9

8 000 to 13 999

9.4

14 000 to 19 999

9.4

20 000 and over

8.5
Without louvered sides (TTW) and with reverse cycle

less than 14 000

9.2

14 000 or more

8.8
Separate classes

Casement-only (all units)

9.5

Casement-slider (all units)

9.5

Standby and Off-Mode Measurement

Additional power measurements are proposed which would allow the calculation of annual energy use. This data could lead to a future amendment to limit standby and off-mode electricity use.

Effective Date

NRCan proposes that this revision to the Energy Efficiency Regulations come into effect on January 1, 2011. All room air conditioners that are subject to the Regulations will be required to meet the stated efficiency level on date of importation.

Harmonization

The US Department of Energy has initiated their rulemaking process for room AC. If details of proposals there are available before the changes are completed in Canada, proposed US efficiency levels may be considered. Measurements of electricity use in off mode and standby power have been proposed in the US (Federal Register December 9, 2008) and are included in this bulletin.

Energy Performance Test Procedure

The proposed test method is CAN/CSA-C368.1-M90 (R2001), Performance Standard for Room Air Conditioners. The test method for additional measurements is CAN/CSA-C62301:07, Household Electrical Appliances - Measurement of Standby Power.

The test method standards are available from:

Canadian Standards Association
5060 Spectrum Way, Suite 100
Mississauga ON  L4W 5N6
Tel.: 1 800 463-6727
In Toronto, call (416) 747-4000
or can be purchased online.

Reporting Requirements

Requirements for the energy efficiency report, as listed in Schedule IV of the Regulations

  • type of product (room air conditioner)
  • brand name
  • model number
  • manufacturer
  • name of the organization or province that carried out the verification and authorized the verification mark that will be affixed to the room air conditioner
  • power input in amperes
  • cooling capacity in Btu per hour
  • energy efficiency ratio (EER)
  • category: with louvered sides, without louvered sides, casement-only or casement-slider
  • reverse cycle: with or without
  • operating voltage: 120 or 240 volts
  • power use in watts during inactive mode, off mode, delay start mode, and off-cycle mode according to CAN/CSA-C62301

Labelling Requirements

No change to existing requirements. An EnerGuide label must be attached to every new room air conditioner sold in Canada.

Verification Requirements

There is no change proposed for the energy efficiency verification requirements. Equipment must bear an Energy Efficiency Verification mark indicating that the ratings are verified by a third part accredited by the Standards Council of Canada.

Importing reports

A dealer who imports these products into Canada must include the following information on the customs release document:

  • Type of product
  • Model number
  • Brand name
  • Address of the dealer importing the product
  • Purpose for which the product is being imported (i.e. for sale or lease in Canada without modification; for sale or lease in Canada after modification to comply with energy efficiency standards; or for use as a component in a product being exported from Canada)

Comments Invited

The purpose of this bulletin is to provide stakeholders with a concise interpretation of the proposed amendment, as they apply to room AC. The full legal text will be as pre-published in the Canada Gazette Part I, which will amend the official regulations once published in the Canada Gazette Part II. All correspondence should be forwarded by April 24, 2009 to:

Brian Killins
Senior Standards Engineer
Office of Energy Efficiency
Natural Resources Canada
930 Carling Avenue, Bldg 5
Ottawa ON K1A 0E4
Tel.: (613) 947-8764
Fax: (613) 944-6365
E-mail:
Web site: