The year 2024 was one of world records. It was the hottest year ever registered, and the number of heatwaves hit all-time highs. As a result, the increased demand for cooling technologies such as air conditioners and fridges drove the use of electricity to what is expected to be record levels too. With air conditioning units responsible for more than 3% of total greenhouse gas emissions, according to some estimates, there needs to be another way.
The technology for more energy efficient appliances is evolving and holds a lot of potential to bring overall emissions down. Energy efficient cooling appliances such as fridges and air conditioning units can be twice as efficient as standard appliances and save up to 40% in total cost over their lifetime.
Demand for air conditioners to sky-rocket
This is encouraging given the average household in the European Union emits around 10 tons of carbon dioxide (CO₂) each year. In the US, the average is several times that amount. There are some 2 billion air conditioning units in use around the world, but most of them are in developing countries. Only a small percentage of households in developing – and often the hottest – countries, such as those in sub Saharan Africa have access to air conditioning. Yet as income levels in those countries are expected to rise, the numbers are likely to explode, with the International Energy Agency (IEA) estimating the numbers will reach over 5.5 billion units by 2050. The widespread use of energy efficient appliances is therefore fast becoming a must.
New tech for energy efficient devices
Speaking at the COP 29 Standards Pavilion, Kana Iwazawa, who works for the External Relations Department at a Japanese air conditioning giant, said their infield tests and analysis have shown that inverter air conditioning units use an average of 50% less energy than non-inverter models based on field comparison tests done in a number of sites around the world. “Inverter technology is already available, but a price gap still exists between inverter and non-inverter air conditioners. To facilitate this transition in the market, the implementation of regulations and standards is necessary,” she explained.
Inverter air conditioners save energy by using a variable-speed compressor compared to a single-speed compressor used in non-inverter units. Variable-speed compressors can better adjust their performance to the existing demand for air-conditioning, making them more energy efficient. They can maintain a more constant temperature and adjust to fluctuations more efficiently.
Refrigerants under the spotlight
Many units also use more efficient and environmentally friendly refrigerants. For several decades, the average residential air conditioning unit used the R-22 refrigerant that is now widely agreed to contribute to the depletion of the ozone layer.
In 1987 the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer was adopted internationally to phase down the consumption and production of the many different ozone depleting substances (ODS), including refrigerants such as R-22. In 2019 the Kigali Amendment to the Protocol was added to phase down the use of hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as well. HFCs are often used in refrigerants and while they don’t contribute to ozone depletion as much, they are still strong greenhouse gases.
More recently, refrigerants have been developed that are less ozone-depleting and have less greenhouse gas effect (measured in terms of their global warming potential, or GWP) and are generally more energy efficient, but at the same time some are classified as flammable, creating a potential safety risk.
Where standards can help
Both IEC and ISO have produced standards for air conditioning units, the first organization focusing more on the safety and the second on the performance of the appliances. ISO publishes ISO 5151, which rates the performance of non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps, a standard which was revised in 2022. It has equally developed ISO 16358-1, which measures the performance of air-cooled air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps.
The IEC, meanwhile, has prepared IEC 60335-2-40, which specifies particular requirements for electrical heat pumps, air conditioners and dehumidifiers. It is an important standard in this field as it provides safety guidelines on the use of refrigerants, including those with a lower GWP. It was also revised in 2022.
Asbjørn Vonsild is the expert on standards and legislation for refrigeration, heat pumps and air conditioning, who led the recent revision of the standard. He says it was updated to take into account the most recent developments in terms of refrigerants and ensure they are safe. This includes other fluids that are increasingly being used such as propane, which has a very low GWP but is extremely flammable, as well as flammable synthetic fluids.
“There are many ways of minimizing the risks of these cleaner refrigerants,” he explains. “The standard gives the guidelines to improve their safety profile, while at the same time helping manufacturers comply with legislation set in place to meet the Montreal Protocol and the Kigali Amendment.”
While we are not there yet, the progress is promising. “The world has come a long way in this transition in the last 10 years, with carbon emissions from refrigerants in some regions down as much as 68%,” Vonsild affirms. “The technology is there, and the product development is fast on its heels. But there is a cost, and that will reduce with widespread adoption. For that, standards can really help,” he explains. International standards such as IEC 60335-2-40 help to facilitate access to global markets, and are valuable tools for governments to create and enforce policies that can then drive the market for energy efficient appliances and direct consumer choice. This is essential to widen the uptake of such technologies given that, according to the IEA, 55% of energy reductions will be driven by consumer choice.
The example of Ghana
Making Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) a regulatory requirement for electrical products is a powerful way of doing this. At COP 29, Hubert Zan, who is an Energy Efficiency Regulation/Energy Transformation Expert at the Ghana Energy Commission, explained how Ghana’s use of MEPS enabled the country to take the least efficient appliances off the market. He added that by adopting a number of IEC Standards for energy efficiency, such as the IEC 62552 series that defines the criteria for the safety, performance and energy consumption of refrigerators, Ghana was able to then incorporate them into new regulations to enforce minimum energy performance requirements as law.
According to Zan, by the end of 2020, a total of 10 159 GWh (10,16 TWh) of electricity was saved on refrigerators and air conditioners, which is attributable to energy labels and MEPS, introduced in 2005. Harmonizing the standards across regions in Africa, he suggested, would add even greater benefits as it would open up the market and ultimately bring costs down. “Harmonization would mean that other countries would adopt the same standards and economies of scale would come in, meaning more efficient products would no longer be expensive. It would also mean that inefficient and sub-standard products that don’t meet the requirements will disappear from your territory.”
Where conformity assessment comes in
IECEE, the IEC System of Conformity Assessment Schemes for Electrotechnical Equipment and Components, can provide that harmonization. As one of the world’s most recognized and trusted multilateral certification systems based on international standards, it offers third party testing and certification for a wide range of electrical and electronic products that align with over 3 000 standards. The use of IECEE certificates helps to ensure consistent quality of products and services and facilitate access to international markets by aligning products in any country with global requirements. Its portfolio includes a number of standards for energy efficiency as well as IEC 60335-2-40 and the IEC 62552 series.
It also runs the IECEE Electrical Energy Efficiency (E3) programme, a globally standardized approach to testing and verifying energy efficiency for electrical and electronic equipment, based on IEC International Standards. The IEC has also produced IEC Guide 118, Inclusion of energy efficiency aspects in electrotechnical publications. The publication gives guidance on how to consider energy efficiency aspects when preparing IEC documents.
As the world continues to grapple with extreme weather events, it is the right time to act to prevent further temperature rises. According to the IEA, “Policy action to improve efficiency is the single best approach to simultaneously achieve sustained energy intensity gains, reduce costs for consumers and enhance access to energy services.” International standards and conformity assessment systems are the most powerful and effective ways for governments to achieve this and create a cooler, more sustainable future for all.
This article was originally published on the IEC website and is reproduced here with their kind permission.