The use of air-conditioners is still not widespread in Europe, but the electricity consumption of domestic air-conditioning is expected to more than double by 2020 and reach 75 TWh per year (equivalent to the residential electricity consumption of Spain). Unlike the US, Japan or Australia, the European Union had not done much to improve the energy performance of air conditioning products sold to its consumers. Energy labels were introduced in 2002, but poorly implemented as some studies reveal. So one can find in EU shops many products that are cheap to buy but which are very energy inefficient.
Fortunately, sales of energy class A-rated products have grown from 17% in 2005 to 61% in 2008, however the class A level was set very far from the efficiency of the best products available elsewhere (such as Japan).
What does the coolproducts campaign want?• A bold mandatory limitation of the consumption of both residential and office air-conditioners, so that Europe catches up with other regions in the world.
• A mandatory 0 Watt mode avoiding electricity waste during no-use seasons.
• A ban of climate damaging refrigerant fluids used in air-conditioners.
• A more ambitious energy labelling genuinely promoting the most efficient products.
What’s the European Union doing and what’s our position?A regulation for domestic air-conditioners, complemented by a revision of the lousy energy label for this product group, has been discussed since 2009. A finalised version has finally been adopted and published in March 2012.
During the consultation process, some highly controversial aspects were maintained, such as keeping a more favourable energy label for small inefficient portable coolers, or the lack of an ambitious long-term objective. Thanks to the involvement of some Member States, more positive provisions were secured, such as a strengthening of the minimum performance requirements and bonus scheme for the use of climate-friendly refrigerant fluids. Activity by
coolproducts partners also helped killing an attempt to introduce outrageous standby allowances, and increasing the ambition of the upper classes of the energy label (in order to avoid seeing already A+++ rated products).
As far as air-conditioners in the tertiary sector are concerned, a preparatory study has been launched in 2010, which means political discussions on where to set minimum performance requirements should start in end of 2012 or 2013.
(Last update: March 2012)Read more about this issue:
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