Proposed Regulations for Room Air Conditioners

BULLETIN
May 2001

Room Air Conditioners

Revisions to the Minimum Energy Efficiency Levels of Room Air Conditioners

Room air conditioners are prescribed as a regulated product under the Energy Efficiency Regulations which came into effect on February 3, 1995. Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) is now proposing to amend these Regulations to establish higher minimum efficiency levels that are identical to those that were published in the U.S. Federal Register on September 24, 1997 and implemented in the U.S. on October 1, 2000. This bulletin follows a preliminary poll of room air conditioners suppliers that revealed widespread support for this proposal.

Product Description

The proposed regulations apply to the following: Room air conditioners using single-phase electric power that have a cooling capacity not exceeing 10.55 kW (36 000 Btu).

In this proposal, units offering reverse cycles are explicitly covered. Moreover, two categories will be recognized separately. They are casement-only and casement-slider room air conditioners defined as follows:

Casement-only: A room air conditioner designed for mounting in a casement window with an encased assembly with a width of 376 mm (14.8 in.) or less and a height of 284 mm (11.2 in.) or less.
Casement-slider: A room air conditioner with an encased assembly designed for mounting in a sliding or casement window with a width of 394 mm (15.5 in.) or less

Energy Performance Test Procedure

CAN/CSA-C368.1-M90, Capacity Performance Standard for Room Air Conditioners (latest amendment draft).

Draft available from:

    Anna-Marie Silvester
    CSA International
    178 Rexdale Boulevard
    Toronto ON  M9W 1R3
    Tel. (416) 747-2590
    Fax: (416) 747-2473
    Web site: www.csa-international.org

The latest amendment draft of CAN/CSA-C368.1 is expected to be approved and published prior to final publication of the regulatory amendment.

Proposed Energy Efficiency Standards

NRCan is poroposing that room air conditioners manufactured on or after the effective date must meet the nimimum Enery Efficiency Ratio (EER) specified in column 2 of Table 1 below.

Labelling Requirements

For the purposes of energy efficiency labelling, it is proposed that the Energy Efficiency Ration (EER), which will appear on the EnerGuide label for room air conditioners on or after July 1, 2002, be determined using the new CAN/CSA-C368.1 energy performance test. Categories will be tabulated in Table 1, column 1 below and labeling instructions will be issued in due time.

Verification, Reporting and Importing Requirements

NRCan proposes no changes to the verification, reporting and importing requirements currently in place for room air conditioners.

Effective Dates

Energy Efficiency Standards

For room air conditioners covered in this proposal, the proposed effective date for the new energy efficiency standards is July 1, 2002.

Energy Performance Test Procedure

The energy performance test procedure is to remain unchanged.

Comments Invited:

This information bulletin is being issued in advance of prepublication in the Canada Gazette to allow time for concerned parties to comment on the proposal. Comments on this proposal by June 20, 2001 would be appreicated and should be directed to the following:

    Raouf Greiss
    Office of Energy Efficiency
    Natural Resources Canada
    580 Booth Street, 18th Floor
    Ottawa, Ontario  K1A 0E4
    Telephone: (613) 943-8291
    Facsimile: (613) 947-0373
    E-mail:rgreiss{AT}nrcan.gc.ca

Table 1

Proposed
Minimum Efficiency Levels for Room Air Conditioners