Southeast Asia

United for Efficiency supports the ten member countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in advancing coordinated policies to phase out inefficient air conditioners, refrigerators and lighting products. As demand for cooling and appliances continues to grow across Southeast Asia, energy efficiency plays a critical role in managing electricity demand, reducing emissions and lowering long-term costs for consumers and governments.

The programme works in close partnership with the ASEAN Centre for Energy (ACE), supporting both regional alignment and national implementation to ensure that market transformation is sustained over time.

Malaysia and Singapore have been key countries of engagement under the ASEAN Cool Initiative, where UNEP-U4E has supported national implementation and policy development. See the country pages for more information.

At a Glance

Regional programme engaging all 10 ASEAN Member States

Active regional policy roadmaps for air conditioners and lighting
ASEAN Cool Initiative launched in 2023 to accelerate higher MEPS adoption for air conditioners
Regional cooperation on testing standards and product registration systems
Technical support delivered with regional and international partners

Project Details

Main Components

Since 2020, U4E has been supporting the development of regional and national policy roadmaps for air conditioners, with the objective of accelerating the transition towards higher energy performance levels across the region. This work also supports progress towards harmonised testing methods and energy-efficiency requirements, helping reduce market fragmentation and compliance costs.

Development of technical documents recommending the adoption of a common evaluation method for air conditioners by ASEAN Member States
Update of the ASEAN Regional Policy Roadmap on Air Conditioners
Update of national policy roadmaps on the promotion of higher-efficiency room air conditioners in ASEAN countries
Technical recommendations to support the adoption of harmonised evaluation standards

Milestones

Supported ASEAN countries in developing Regional Policy Roadmap for Energy Effiecient Room Air Conditioners
Launched ASEAN Cool Initiative to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Policy Roadmap for Energy Efficient Room Air Conditioners by providing technical assistance and capacity building on MEPS and labels to enable countries shifting towards more ambitious Regional Phase II target (CSPF 6.09 Wh/Wh).
Organized 2 Regional Workshops (2023 in Malaysia and 2025 in the Philippines) to explore strategies with AMS in aligning with the Regional Phase II target.

ASEAN Cool Initiative

In 2023, the ASEAN Cool Initiative was established to accelerate the implementation of the ASEAN Regional Policy Roadmap for Energy-Efficient Room Air Conditioners. The initiative provides targeted technical assistance and capacity-building to strengthen Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and energy labels across the region.

The initiative is led by UNEP-U4E, in collaboration with the ACE, the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL), and the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC).

Across ASEAN, the project supports countries in accelerating the adoption of the regional roadmap, enabling them to move directly towards the more ambitious Regional Phase II efficiency levels.

Key activities include:

Collection of market data and technical analysis to inform government decisions on regulatory updates
Development of more stringent regulations, including MEPS and refrigerant requirements for room air conditioners, establishing a mandatory minimum performance level for products entering the market
Support to governments on stakeholder engagement and public consultations
Analysis demonstrating the positive impacts of higher MEPS levels, low-global-warming-potential refrigerants and energy labels
Awareness-raising with local SME manufacturers, assemblers and suppliers
Update of the regional policy roadmap to cover air conditioners with cooling capacities of up to 4.5 kW
Update of regional analysis to support policymaker awareness-raising on the benefits of higher MEPS levels
Organisation of regional meetings, awareness-raising activities and stocktaking of agreed MEPS levels

A man in a blue suit and tie speaks at a podium with a microphone. A screen with text is visible in the background, and the room has yellow and white walls with tall lights.

A large group of professionally dressed people pose on stage, smiling and giving thumbs up, in front of a screen displaying ASEAN Cool Initiative Singapore Study Tour 5 & 6 November 2024 Theatre Level 03..

National Lighting Roadmaps

U4E supports ASEAN Member States in developing national energy-efficiency lighting roadmaps, helping countries plan and implement a comprehensive transition to efficient lighting technologies.

Main components

Development of national lighting roadmaps based on a holistic market transformation approach, aligned with the existing ASEAN regional lighting roadmap
Delivery of technical recommendations to support the effective implementation of national lighting roadmaps
Training of stakeholders on the design and enforcement of effective lighting regulations

People sit around a U-shaped conference table with laptops and papers. A UN Environment Programme sign is displayed in the background. The meeting appears formal and collaborative.

Product Registration Systems (PRS)

U4E supports ASEAN countries in strengthening and harmonising product registration systems (PRS), which are critical for effective market surveillance and enforcement of energy efficiency regulations.

Main components

Guidance to policymakers on options for harmonising PRS activities across the ten ASEAN countries
Development of a prototype PRS system for application in countries without an existing system, within and beyond ASEAN
Development of a regional product registration database connecting countries across the region and enabling regional monitoring of energy efficiency
Training of stakeholders on the use, application and benefits of PRS and the regional database