Air conditioners and heat pumps
Air conditioners and heat pumps are required to comply with minimum energy performance standards (MEPS), including labelling requirements.
Amendments to the MEPS and labelling requirements will be phased in from around December 2009 - these are outlined below.
On this page:
- Current MEPS and labelling requirements
- Regulatory steps
- Standards
- Scope of the Standard
- Upcoming changes to MEPS and labelling
- ENERGY STAR® for heat pumps
- Heat pump installation guide
Current MEPS and labelling requirements
MEPS requirements
Importers and manufacturers may not sell air conditioners/heat pumps unless they are tested and registered, and meet or exceed Minimum Energy Performance Standards, in order to comply with the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002.
Labelling requirements
Labelling is part of MEPS requirements for air conditioners and heat pumps.
Single phase non-ducted air conditioners must display energy rating labels when available for sale (including "dummy fronts" for display purposes in retail outlets). Three-phase air conditioners and ducted single-phase units do not have to be labelled.
Importers, manufacturers, retailers and people selling new appliances have obligations to ensure that energy rating labels are afixed or supplied when appliances are available for sale.
Regulatory requirements
There are steps you must take to meet the requirements of the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002.
Check out:
Standards
The relevant Standards below are cited in the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002. These MEPS state the minimum energy performance requirements for heat pumps/air conditioners. Standards are available from the Standards New Zealand.
The energy efficiency standards for air conditioners are:
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AS/NZS 3823.1.1:1998 (Inc. Amendments 1, 2 & 3) Performance of electrical appliances - Airconditioners and heat pumps Part 1.1: Non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps - Testing and rating of performance;
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AS/NZS 3823.1.2:2001 (Inc. Amendments 1, 2 & 3) Performance of electrical appliances - Airconditioners and heat pumps Part 1.2 Test methods - Ducted air conditioners and heat pumps - Testing and rating of performance;
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AS/NZS3823.2:2009 Performance of electrical appliances - Air conditioners and heat pumps Part 2: Energy labelling and minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements;
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AS/NZS 3823.3:2002 Performance of electrical appliances - Airconditioners and heat pumps - Calculation of performance for minimum energy performance standard (MEPS) requirements.
Scope and exemptions to Standard
Check out the scope and exemptions for air conditioners/heat pumps.
Upcoming changes to MEPS and labelling
Improvements in heat pump and air conditioner efficiency has resulted in many products bunched at the higher end of the energy rating label scale.
Heat pumps are now in about 20% of New Zealand homes and account for an increasing proportion of residential energy use.
Improved MEPS and labelling requirements will continue to encourage more efficient products onto the market and allow customers to identify efficient models.
Most of these proposed changes have already been outlined in a regulatory impact statement released in September 2008, other changes arose as part of the Standards consultation process with key industry stakeholders.
Changes to MEPS and labelling
- A revised energy labeling algorithm (the calculation used to determine a star rating). This algorithm will decrease current star ratings by about 2 stars, in order to encourage greater efficiency at the higher star ratings.
- New labels. A two-part "side-by-side" energy rating label, as below (heating-only or cooling-only products will use a one-part label), to make it easier to compare the heating and cooling performance between models. There will also be an optional 7 to 10 star energy rating label has been designed to appear on a select few "super efficient" products.
- More stringent MEPS cooling mode levels for selected products (under 10 kW output).
- MEPS levels for heating mode for the first time for all products with a heating function - this will be the same COP for heating as the EER is for cooling.
New air conditioner and heat pump energy rating label
Find out more about new energy rating labels.
Timing
- From December 2009: all new listings for heat pumps manufactured or imported into NZ will need to be listed, and meet the requirements of the revised MEPS and Labelling Standard (AS/NZS 3823.2: 2009). The new labels must be used on all newly listed models.
- From 1 April 2010: Regulations will apply to all heat pumps manufactured or imported into NZ or Australia. At this time, if you wish to continue importing models listed to the old MEPS, you will need to re-list them to the new MEPS and use new labels.
- Note: Old stock which was listed to the older standard, may be sold and may display the old label until the old stock is depleted, but new stock must meet the new requirements.
- From 1 April 2011: MEPS levels will be based on annual EER/COP (this includes an element of stand-by energy consumption). The minimum power factor requirement will be 0.85.
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From April 2012: Demand response capability will be required on all models.
ENERGY STAR® for heat pumps
EECA has introduced the ENERGY STAR mark on whiteware and other home appliances - including heat pumps. This voluntary, international endorsement mark enables consumers to identify which models are the most energy efficient. It is planned to include winter performance of heat pumps in the ENERGY STAR requirements from April 2010.
Check out more about ENERGY STAR and ENERGY STAR Partners for product listings and more information.
Heat pump installation guide
EECA, in conjunction with BRANZ and with input from industry, has developed a good practice guide to installing heat pumps, aimed at experienced installers of heat pumps. Good design and installation are fundamental to a heat pump system's effectiveness and efficiency.
Find out more about the good practice guide to heat pump installation.
More information
