APEC Conference - Airconditioning & energy performance - the next 5 years

This conference was held at the Sydney Convention and Exhibition Centre on 9 June, 2004 with workshops running on 7 & 8 June.

Documents from the conference are available for download at the bottom of this page.

Introduction

Almost 100 experts drawn from 11 nations (including 9 APEC economies) met to discuss the energy and environmental issues surrounding airconditioning. The conference was convened by the Australian Greenhouse Office with the support and funding of APEC for testing methods, and key Australian stakeholder organisations for performance standards and peak load issues.

The delegates attending the APEC sponsored conference titled "Airconditioning and Energy Performance - the next five years" made a commitment to meet world-best environmental and energy efficiency standards for air conditioners, and to use the international test method in their own economies. The conference was preceded by workshops where delegates reached a consensus on proposals dealing with:

Mandatory Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for Australia - setting minimum levels for energy performance.
Electricity Peak Load and Airconditioners - implementing actions to reduce the impact of air conditioners on peak electricity demand in Australia.
Testing Standards for Airconditioners - encouraging the testing of airconditioners to a common method in all APEC economies.

Delegates agreed to champion these consensus resolutions within their field of expertise or within their home economy. This communique represents a foundation element in developing an agreed agenda to deliver a common work program that can address the energy and environmental impact of airconditioning over the next 5 years. The Australian Government response is recorded in the media release of Dr Sharman Stone MP.

The principal outcomes were:

To ensure a common test procedure, the participating economies would measure airconditioner performance in accordance with the relevant International Standards Organisation (ISO) test procedure and ISO would be asked to add differing conditions for measurement as an in-country specific appendix where required.
Maintain and enhance the dialogue within the electricity industry, equipment suppliers, government and other stakeholders to create plans for managing the impact of airconditioning on electricity system peak load.
Continue support for the Australian policy of matching world best practice MEPS and encourage Australia to match the MEPS levels of Korea for domestic airconditioners and the USA for larger commercial units.

The communique below is structured to allow those interested in the main outcomes to obtain a precis of the resolutions while also providing those interested in the detail of the resolutions and the process for arriving at those resolutions. The three statements from the conference themes are also listed.

The presentations below are available for downloading as PDF files. You will need Adobe Acrobat Reader installed on your computer to view these files. If you are unable to access this document, please contact The Australian Greenhouse Office to organise a suitable alternative format.

Conference report and presentations

Conference Communique

Conference Summary of Proceedings & Workshop Summaries

9 June 2004 - General Conference

Plenary Presentations

Dr Sharman Stone, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for the Environment & Heritage - End-use energy efficiency in Australia - Cost effective greenhouse gas abatement (307 kB) (see also separate media release by Dr Stone)
James Shevlin, Australian Greenhouse Office - What Australian Regulators Want as Requirements For Airconditioning (109 kB)
Brad Page, CEO, Energy Supply Association of Australia - Peak Load and Demand Supply Management - What This Means for Airconditioning (71 kB)
Ross Malme, International Energy Agency & Peak Load Management Alliance - Mechanisms for Managing Peak Load Demand (679 kB)
Rachael Clarke, Australian Greenhouse Office - Confronting Emissions of Ozone Depleting Substances and Their Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Alternatives - A Case Study on Regulatory Reform (133 kB)
Paul Ryan, EnergyConsult - Future Directions - The next five years. Identifying issues and strategies required to achieve an energy efficient and sustainable future (226 kB)
Professor Eddie Leonardi, UNSW - Test Methods and Alternatives (73 kB)
Dr Harry Schapp, Environment & Sustainable Energy, Energy Supply Association of Australia - Peak Load and Demand Side Management Issues (100 kB)

7 June 2004 - Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) & Labelling Workshops

Plenary Presentations

Robert Tromop, Energy Regulator, NZ - How the Australasian Regulatory System Works (292 kB)
Alan Driver, OCEIV - Australian Regulators' Approach to Enforcing MEPS (133 kB)
Shane Holt, Australian Greenhouse Office - Recent Enforcement Activities on Labels & Standards (708 kB)
Lloyd Harrington, EES - Proposed Standby Requirements for Air Conditioners (291 kB)

Workshop A - Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS). A facilitated session involving delegates from APEC economies with a roundtable forum discussed the Minimum Energy Performance Standards proposals for 2004 and 2007. The workshop aimed to identify problem areas and consider solutions that support the proposals.

Background Paper on MEPS Issues (489 kB)
Paul Ryan, EnergyConsult - Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) (240 kB)

Workshops B & C - An International Perspective on airconditioners & Regulatory Issues - Parts One & Two. A facilitated session involving delegates from APEC economies with a roundtable forum compared and discussed the implications of differences in international test methods. The workshop aimed to identify problem areas and consider solutions that support a unified approach.

Peter Dupont - Danish Energy Management - An International Perspective on Airconditioners & Regulatory Issues - Parts One & Two (755kB)

Workshop D - Why It is Time to Regulate Heat Pumps. A facilitated session considered issues relating to the regulation of heat pumps.

Robert Tromop, Energy Regulator, NZ - Heat Pump MEPS for Australasia (285 kB)

Workshop E - Why it is Time to Stop Horsepower Marketing in Favour of kW. A facilitated session considered issues relating to the regulation of heat pumps and looked at ways to encourage the phase-out of horsepower marketing.

Rod King - Available Shortly

8 June 2004 - Testing & Demand Supply Management

Plenary Presentations

James Walters, American Refrigeration Institute (ARI) - Who Tests to the International Standards Organisations (ISO) Method & Why (153 kB)
Allan Tayler, Australian Delegate to ISO - What Australia is Doing to Help Set the Testing Agenda (303 kB)
Professor Eddie Leonardi, UNSW - International Standards Organisations (ISO) Methodology & Coping with New Technologies (274 kB)
Warren Miller, Standards Australia - The Importance of Standards (89 kB)
Professor Graham Morrison, UNSW - Modelling and the HP Rate System (126kB)
Background Paper on Peak Load Issues (Workshops A, C & E) (489 kB)

International Presentations

Rosnah Mohd Yusof, Standards Management Dept, Malaysia - Malaysian Standards Development on Performance of Air Conditioners (331 kB)
Mike Gaudin, Environment Canterbury, New Zealand - Clean Heat Project, New Zealand (240 kB)
Liu Yuezhan, Guangzhou Testing & Inspection Institute for Household Electrical Appliances - Air Conditioner Testing in China (185 kB)
Jin Minghong, China National Institute Of Standardization - Updated information about Chinese MEPS and labeling (127 kB)

Workshop A - Demand Supply Management Problems & Solutions - Hedging Tools for Peak Load Management

Ross Malme, International Energy Agency & Peak Load Management Alliance - United States Demand Response Resources (138 kB)

Workshop B - Test Methods. A facilitated session involving delegates from APEC economies with a roundtable forum compared and discussed the implications of international differences. The workshop aimed to identify countries that use the International Standards Organisations (ISO) test (unchanged) and understand their reasoning for this.

Professor Eddie Leonardi, UNSW - Test Methods Workshop (107 kB)

Workshop C - Is demand supply management and peak load the death knell for airconditioner sales? Or will new product design features help?

Robert Beggs, Daikin - Domestic Airconditioning - The Necessary Luxury (299 kB)

Workshop D - Refrigeration Technologies, Energy Use and Kyoto.

Dr Stephen White, CSIRO - Refrigeration Technologies, Energy Use & Kyoto - A Preliminary Overview for New Zealand (378 kB)

Workshop E - Airconditioning & power industry actions to limit peak load issues. A facilitated session involving delegates from APEC economies with a roundtable forum compared and discussed the implications of peak load issues relating to airconditioning. The workshop aimed to develop a list of possible options to address future supply and demand side options.

Paul Ryan, EnergyConsult - Airconditioning & Energy Performance (469 kB)

Workshop F - Alternatives to testing. A facilitated session involving delegates from APEC economies with a roundtable forum compared and discussed the implications of international differences. The workshop aimed to identify countries that do not use the International Standards Organisations (ISO) test and discuss ways to overcome variations.

Professor Graham Morrison, UNSW - Air Conditioner Performance Rating (624 kB)

For further information email energy.rating@greenhouse.gov.au