Accelerating Adoption of Efficient and Clean Cooling in China and Beyond

On April 15, 2020, United Nations Environment Programme’s United for Efficiency (U4E) organised a webinar in Chinese on China’s Minimum Energy Performance Standards and U4E’s Model Regulation Guidelines for ACs: Accelerating the Switch to Energy-Efficient and Climate-Friendly Cooling, together with Energy Foundation China (EF China), China National Institute of Standardization (CNIS), and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). Over 220 participants from 45 organisations in the Chinese air conditioning industry, including manufacturers, laboratories, testing bodies and technical institutions participated in the webinar. This webinar was designed to engage the Chinese industry to improve the energy efficiency level of AC products in both domestic and export markets, thereby concretely supporting the implementation of China’s Green and High-Efficiency Cooling Action Plan (Action Plan) that was issued jointly by the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and seven other ministries. U4E’s Model Regulation Guidelines for Air Conditioners were presented with highlights on the rationale and technical specifications. China’s upcoming MEPS which includes rigorous energy efficiency requirements and testing approaches that are well aligned with the U4E’s AC Model Regulation Guidelines was also introduced. Taking action on cooling products It was noted by CNIS that by July 1, 2020, China would implement the revised “Energy Efficiency Requirements and Rating of Room Air Conditioner ” (GB21455-2019). The new standard integrates the energy efficiency metrics of fixed-speed and variable-speed air conditioners, and greatly improves the energy performance requirements, laying a solid foundation to accelerate the transformation of the market toward more efficient AC products. Industry was encouraged to be well prepared for the implementation of the new standards amidst the challenge of production and sales resumption that limited by COVID -19. U4E’s Model regulation for ACs received positive feedbacks among Chinese AC industry

The U4E’s AC Model Regulation Guidelines aims to help regulatory authorities and policy makers in developing and emerging economies to set a minimum efficiency floor to prohibit future sales of inefficient products from the market. The guidelines deliver multiple benefits for global policy makers, such as simplifying the adoption and implementation of robust regulation, harmonising requirements to reduce trade barriers and unlocking economies of scale to make products more affordable, enabling more effective market enforcement and catalysing product innovation. It will also help manufacturers to identify new markets, reducing the cost by simplifying product testing and increasing the market demand for compliant products. If pursued by all 156 developing countries and emerging economies, annual impacts starting in 2040 are estimated at savings of 558 terawatt hours of electricity – equivalent to almost 255 large (500MW) power plants, mitigation of 5 billion tonnes of CO₂, and USD 51 billion in electricity bill savings.

“We are happy to see such model regulation being developed. As one of the world’s leading AC manufacturers, we regard it as an effective tool to help us reduce the cost in producing more energy efficient AC products. We would like to support the wider deployment of the Guidelines and follow the leading international standards.” Noted by WANG Yue, Director of Standard Management Department of GREE at the webinar. Representatives from SANHUA, a leading supplier of components, and the International Copper Association (ICA) also expressed their support for the AC Model Regulation Guidelines.  The follow-up survey result showed high satisfaction among the participants on the webinar and indicated their strong interest in understanding how to be engaged. U4E will continue to cooperate with industry stakeholders to promote the AC Model Regulation Guidelines and actively drive the effective implementation and harmonisation of energy efficiency standards of AC products through global activities as well as regional and in country projects. Click here to download U4E and LBNL’s joint presentation on Model Regulation Guidelines for ACs. Click here to view U4E webinar on Model Regulation in English.