Cooling and Ventilation Equipment –
Room Air Conditioners

Energy Efficiency Information

EnerGuide Label for Room Air Conditioners

Over the years, the EnerGuide label has become a valuable shopping tool for consumers. The label indicates that a product meets or surpasses Canada's minimum standards for energy efficiency.

Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations require an EnerGuide label on all room air conditioners for sale in Canada. This label helps consumers obtain consistent and reliable information about the relative energy efficiency of room air conditioners. The EnerGuide label is the best tool available to help you select an energy-efficient room air conditioner.

Sample room air conditioner EnerGuide label

Note: The EnerGuide label for room air conditioners always compares models of the same type and with similar cooling capacities.

1. This number shows the energy efficiency ratio – EER – of the room air conditioner model. The EER is based on a Canadian Standards Association (CSA) test procedure that manufacturers must follow.
   
   
2. The numbers shown on the left and right of this line indicate the range of EERs available for similar models (same type and similar cooling capacity)during one year. The number on the right is the most energy-efficient model produced or available in a given year, as listed with EnerGuide. The number on the left of his line is the EER of the least efficient model produced or available in a given year, as listed with EnerGuide.The numbers on this scale are provided by EnerGuide to all manufacturers and dealers, and are updated every year to reflect new models introduced in Canada.
   
   
3. This triangle places the EER of the model on the label in comparison with the least and most efficient EERs (numbers on the left and right) of models of the same type and with similar cooling capacities.
   
   
4. This is the type and cooling capacity category. Types are either louvred or non-louvred. Cooling capacity category is in Btu/h.
   
   
5. This is the actual model number of the unit on which the label should be placed.
   
   

EnerGuide labels list the energy consumption of an appliance or room air conditioner, not its energy efficiency.

On most labels, lower kWh/yr numbers show that an appliance uses less energy and is more energy efficient. With room air conditioners the bold number represents the energy efficiency ratio (EER) of the unit. The higher the number, the more energy efficient the model. So you should look for a model with a higher EER.

Use the label to compare the performance of a model with others in the same class. Class refers to the type: units with louvered sides are intended for installation in window openings and are the most common types available. Units with non-louvered sides are intended for through-the-wall installations. The cooling capacity category is also important and indicated near the bottom of the label. The further the triangle is to the right of the scale, the more energy efficient the model.

List of distributors by brand name of room air conditioners

List of models : Room air condtioners
This list of models is continually updated and indicates which models are sold in Canada along with their energy ratings, including ENERGY STAR qualified models.

More information about EnerGuide

ENERGY STAR^®

A powerful ally of the EnerGuide program is the international ENERGY STAR symbol. While EnerGuide provides comparative information on the energy consumption of different products, the ENERGY STAR symbol on a room air conditioner or on its EnerGuide label assures you that the unit is one of the top energy performers on the market.

To qualify for the ENERGY STAR symbol, a room air conditioner must meet a standard of premium energy efficiency. To earn this status, a room air conditioner must exceed the Government of Canada's minimum standard of energy efficiency by 10 percent or more. For small units, this means an EER of at least 10.7; for mid-sized, at least 10.8; and for larger models, 9.4.

Almost 400 models meet the ENERGY STAR specifications. By replacing your old air conditioner with an ENERGY STAR qualified model, you can realize substantial savings in electricity costs. Today's ENERGY STAR qualified units use 30 to 40 percent less energy than most models sold 10 to 15 years ago.

More information about ENERGY STAR

The ENERGY STAR name and the ENERGY STAR symbol are registered trademarks of the United States Environmental Protection Agency and are used with permission.

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