Preliminary results on European investigations about Room Air Conditioners efficiency

J. Adnot, C. Carretero, D. Marchio, and M. Orpehlin, Centre d'Energétique, Ecole des Mines de Paris
P. Waide, PW Consulting

Keywords

Abstract

Room Air Conditioners (RACs) constitute a rapidly growing demand for electricity in Europe. They are defined as having a cooling capacity under 12 kW and come in the following basic types: window, monosplit, multisplit and single duct. The European market is almost equally divided between the domestic sector where RACs are acquired either through direct or indirect purchasing channels and the tertiary sector (offices, hotels and small shops). In consequence, the impact of any European energy efficency policy measures targeting RACs needs to be studied on equally for both sectors.

The contribution of air conditioners to the greenhouse effect comes both indirectly from their energy consumption and directly from the airborne release of refrigerant. CO2 emissions per kWh of electricity consumed depend on the specific generation mix in the country concerned although EU average values can be derived. The Total Equivalent Warming Impact (TEWI) index (defined as the global warming equivalent mass of CO2 emissions produced over the life cycle of the equipment) is used to enable the direct contribution of the refrigerant emissions and the indirect contribution due to the energy consumption to be compared on an even basis

The objectives of the EERAC (Energy Efficiency of Room Air Conditioners) SAVE sponsored study are:

to estimate the electricity consumption of room air conditioners and their TEWI contributions,
to estimate potential energy savings deriving from the use of more efficient domestic room air conditioners,
to investigate ways in which these savings can be realised, including behavioural changes and policy options (labelling, minimum efficiency standards, procurement programmes, incentives etc..), to make appropriate recommendations, on the basis of a preliminary cost/benefit analysis. This paper gives a partial overview of the first two points, while the last two, which are not yet completed, will be presented in a future paper.