Air Conditioners / Heat Pumps
Air conditioners and heat pumps are required to comply with Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). Single phase non-ducted air conditioners must also display energy rating labels when displayed for sale (including “dummy fronts” for display purposes). Three-phase air conditioners and ducted single-phase units do not have to be labelled.
Importers and manufacturers must ensure that air conditioners comply with MEPS, are registered, and energy rating labels are supplied with each air conditioner (when applicable). Retailers are responsible for displaying energy rating labels.
Upcoming work for Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC)
There are a number of strands of work underway in the HVAC area as part of the current products work programme.
>> More information on upcoming work for HVAC
Energy Rating Label for air conditioners/heat pumps
[>> view large image and explanation of label]
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Standards
The relevant standard cited in regulation states the minimum compliance requirements for heat pumps/ air conditioners. Standards are available from the Standards New Zealand website.
The energy efficiency standards for air conditioners are:
- AS/NZS 3823.1.1:1998 Performance of electrical appliances - Airconditioners and heat pumps Part 1.1: Non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps - Testing and rating of performance;
- AS/NZS 3823.1.2:2001 Performance of electrical appliances - Airconditioners and heat pumps Part 1.2 Test methods - Ducted air conditioners and heat pumps - Testing and rating of performance;
- AS/NZS3823.2:2005 Performance of electrical appliances – Air conditioners and heat pumps Part 2: Energy labelling and minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements.
- AS/NZS 3823.3:2002 Performance of electrical appliances - Airconditioners and heat pumps - Calculation of performance for minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements
Amendment to air conditioners and heat pumps Standard
As of 1 April 2008, Amendment No. 3 to Part 2 of the Standard for air conditioners and heat pumps (AS/NZS3823.2:2005) has now been incorporated into the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002. The changes are technical and will not affect current MEPS levels or labelling requirements. You can obtain a copy of the Amendment from Standards New Zealand.
>> Amendment to the air conditioners Standard
Registration*
All models must be registered and undergo a performance test, and it’s free to register products.
New Zealand operates a joint energy efficiency programme with Australia, sharing standards and a website. Models registered in Australia for the Australia/ New Zealand markets do not need extra registration to be sold in New Zealand.
To check which products are registered see the Australian energy rating website .
Exemptions
Every air conditioner that is covered by the cited standards must be registered. A number of types of air conditioners are excluded from the scope of the standard. These include multi-split systems and spot coolers. A full list can be found in the standard.
Sales data
In order to track the effectiveness of Energy Rating Labels, importers and manufacturers are required to supply EECA with annual sales data, including efficiency information.
*Although the term ‘registration’ is used here, the legal requirement in New Zealand is to ‘complete and submit the prescribed forms’. Requirements to register apply only to suppliers in Australia, but completing and submitting the forms on the online database on the Australian energy rating website to the New Zealand regulator fulfils requirements here.