Large Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps

Bulletin Update – May 2005

Air conditioners and heat pumps of various types are prescribed as regulated products under Canada's Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations). The Office of Energy Efficiency (OEE) of Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) proposes to amend the Regulations under which dealers would be required to comply with more stringent minimum energy performance standards for large cooling equipment imported or shipped interprovincially for sale or lease in Canada.

A bulletin was posted and distributed in August 2004 stating NRCan's intent to increase the minimum efficiency levels in the Regulations for air conditioners, heat pumps and condensing units that are greater than or equal to 19 kilowatts (65 000 Btu/h) in cooling capacity. The purpose of this bulletin is to summarize feedback received and to provide an update to the proposed changes to be incorporated in an amendment to the Regulations. NRCan expects the amendment to be pre-published in the Canada Gazette Part I shortly.

The proposed efficiency levels are essentially consistent with efficiency levels in ASHRAE 90.1-2001.

Product Description

This proposed amendment to the Regulations applies to factory-assembled commercial and industrial unitary air conditioners, heat pumps, and air-conditioning condensing units ranging in capacity from 19 kilowatts (65 000 Btu/h) to 70 kilowatts (240 000 Btu/h). In Canada, over 17 000 large air-conditioning units were shipped in 2001, with about 90 percent being unitary air-cooled equipment.

Energy Performance Test Procedure

The test method for evaluating the energy performance of large air conditioners and heat pumps is CSA-C746-98. Within CSA-C746-98, equipment is categorized by Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI) type. The test method has recently been reaffirmed by the Technical Committee on Heating, Ventilation, Air Conditioning, & Refrigeration of the Canadian Standards Association (CSA). CSA C746-98 is available in French and English from:

Comments Received

Comments were received supporting the adoption of ASHRAE 90.1 efficiency requirements that harmonize efficiency levels in North America.

The minimum efficiency requirements proposed in the previous bulletin were taken from CSA C746-98. A number of comments were received pointing out minor differences between levels in CSA C746-98 and ASHRAE 90.1, and encouraged NRCan to specify the requirements of ASHRAE 90.1 precisely. Many of those changes have been incorporated.

The ARI commented that performance at –8.3°C for heat pumps should not be required since the U.S. Regulations do not specify this value. However, NRCan has retained this rating point since efficiency for heating at lower temperatures is an important factor in Canada's colder climate. ASHRAE 90.1 does specify this rating point.

Proposed Energy Efficiency Standards

Changes from the previous bulletin include:

• reduction of the upper size limit to 240 000 Btu/h to align with the scope of ASHRAE 90.1
• removal of IPLV for air conditioners and heat pumps (although this information will continue to be collected voluntarily)
• inclusion of efficiency ratings for equipment with heating sections other than electric
• removal of the proposed increased scope to include very large equipment

Table 1. Minimum Efficiency Levels Proposed for Large AC and Heat Pumps

Table 2. Minimum Efficiency Levels Proposed for Condensing Units

Verification and Labelling Requirements

Equipment must carry a verification mark indicating that the energy performance has been verified. The verification mark is the mark of a certification organization that has an energy performance verification program for this product. The certification organization must be accredited by the Standards Council of Canada. EnerGuide labels are not required.

Effective Dates

NRCan is proposing that these energy efficiency standards for large air-conditioning equipment come into effect on September 1, 2005. This means that equipment must meet the minimum efficiency levels if the manufacturing process is completed on or after that date.

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