Air-cons to face higher energy-saving standards from next September

STACEY LIM Today Online 21 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE — Starting next September, the air-conditioners sold here will have to meet higher energy-saving standards, with a minimum energy-efficiency rating of two ticks, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said today (Oct 20).

Currently, air-conditioners that are imported into Singapore must have at least one tick under the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme (MELS).

The number of ticks on the label indicates the relative energy efficiency of the product, with more ticks indicating better energy efficiency.

Households that switch from a one-tick to a two-tick air-conditioner can save about S$100 annually in energy costs, the NEA said.

According to a 2012 survey conducted by NEA on household energy consumption, air-conditioning accounted for 36.7 per cent of the total household electricity consumption.

By raising the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air-conditioners, consumers can benefit from appliances with better energy efficiency, and lower energy consumption and costs at the same time, the NEA said.

They will also help to reduce Singapore’s carbon footprint.

Apart from the MEPS, consumers can also check the labels on the household appliances in stores to help them make better-informed decisions before making their purchases.

Under the MELS, electrical appliances, such as air-conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers, are required to have labels that carry useful information, such as their annual energy consumption and energy costs.

The NEA regularly reviews the MEPS of various household appliances to ensure that the standards keep up with technological improvements as well as with changing market conditions.

The MEPS and MELS will also be extended to other appliances, such as water heaters and general lighting.

To allow importers, manufacturers and retailers sufficient time to clear their existing stocks of air-conditioners, products that are in the market or were imported before Sept 1 next year will be exempted from the regulations for a year.

Ms Swen Tan, 47, a consulting sales manager for Daikin Airconditioning, said the regulation that will take effect next September will have “minimal impact” on the company as most of its air-conditioning models are rated “more than two ticks”.

She added: “It is good (on the part) of the NEA because we are going towards a green and efficient performance (of air conditioning), and we recommend the end-user to use energy-efficient appliances to reduce carbon emissions.”


Higher energy standards for air-conditioners from next September
Air-conditioners being sold in Singapore must have a minimum energy-efficiency rating of at least two ticks, up from one tick currently.

Channel NewsAsia 20 Oct 15;

SINGAPORE: Starting next September, air-conditioners being sold in Singapore will have to meet higher energy standards with a minimum energy-efficiency rating of at least two ticks, the National Environment Agency (NEA) said on Tuesday (Oct 20).

Currently, air-conditioners that are imported into Singapore must have at least one tick under the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme. The number of ticks on the label indicates the relative energy efficiency of the product.

Households that switch from a one-tick to a two-tick air-conditioner can save about S$100 annually in energy costs, the NEA said.

According to a survey conducted by NEA on household energy consumption, air-conditioning accounts for about 37 per cent of a household’s electricity consumption.

To allow importers, manufacturers and retailers sufficient time to clear their existing stocks of air-conditioners, products that are in the market or were imported before Sep 1, 2016 will be exempted from the regulations for a year, NEA said.

- CNA/cy


Less energy-efficient air-cons to be phased out
Carolyn Khew Straits Times AsiaOne 22 Oct 15;

Air-conditioning accounts for about 37 per cent of total household energy consumption here, the highest of all home appliances. Switching to a more energy-efficient model will help each household save $100 a year in energy costs.

Photo: The Straits Times

In a bid to cut Singapore's energy consumption, the National Environment Agency (NEA) will phase out less energy-efficient air-conditioners by September next year.

Currently, air-conditioning models sold here must have at least one tick on the energy label, which is used to help consumers gauge how energy-efficient a particular electrical appliance is.

From September next year, however, the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) will be raised and all models here will be required to have at least two ticks.

The electrical appliance will be the first to have the minimum requirement of two ticks, meaning it uses less energy.

The switch will help a household save $100 annually in energy costs, the agency said, adding that it is giving importers, manufacturers and retailers enough time to clear their existing stocks.

Products that are on the market or imported before Sept 1 next year will be exempted from regulations for a year, meaning that they can be on sale until September 2017.

The NEA added that it will review the MEPS from time to time and assess whether standards for household appliances should be raised.

Introduced in 2008, the Mandatory Energy Labelling Scheme also covers refrigerators and clothes dryers. Under it, the more ticks awarded, the more energy-efficient the product is.

According to a 2012 NEA study on household energy consumption, air-conditioning accounted for about 37 per cent of total household electricity consumption - the highest among all home appliances.

The labelling scheme is part of the Government's bid to reduce its energy consumption and ecological footprint.

Singapore has pledged to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases emitted for each dollar of gross domestic product by 36 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030.

Retailers The Straits Times spoke to yesterday said that they generally had no issues about phasing out the less efficient air-conditioners.

Retailer Gain City, for instance, said that only 3 per cent of its air-conditioners are one tick.

Furniture and electronics retail giant Courts Singapore said it stopped selling one tick air-conditioners last year.

While retailers say air-conditioners that are more energy-efficient are likely to cost more, it will not deter some, like housewife Wendy Choo, from buying them.

"I'll pay more for energy savings," said the 57-year-old. "In the long term, you can save a lot in terms of usage cost."