Overview of Australian Standards used for Energy Efficiency

Australian Standards for products that carry an energy label or which are regulated for MEPS now generally have two parts:

"Part 1" covers the test procedure and ambient conditions such as the test method, performance measures and test materials;
"Part 2" contains the detailed technical requirements for energy labelling and Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) (where applicable).

For some products, the test procedure and the regulatory standards may not be part numbers 1 and 2 as these part numbers may have been allocated for other purposes. References on this web site to "Part 1" and "Part 2" refer to the relevant test procedure and the regulatory standard respectively. Note that most energy efficiency standards are now jointly published by Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand.

An energy labelling and/or Minimum Energy Performance Standards application form which has to be submitted to state regulators can be found in the Part 2 standard. Such applications are normally required to have a test report to the relevant Part 1 standard for three sample units. These tests reports have to be prepared by an acceptable laboratory. However, applications for energy labelling or MEPS are now done electronically.

Find out how to make an application for an energy label or MEPS.

Australian Standards provide a "one-stop shop" for industry and regulators, addressing not only testing and performance requirements, but also energy labelling and minimum energy performance requirements. The following standards are currently used for energy efficiency regulation in Australia:

AS/NZS 4474: refrigerator and freezers - more details
AS/NZS 2040: clothes washers - more details
AS/NZS 2442: clothes dryers - more details
AS/NZS 2007: dishwashers - more details
AS/NZS 3823: room air conditioners (single phase) - more details
AS/NZS 3823: packaged air conditioners (three phase) - more details
AS 1056: electric water heaters - more details (note that NZ Standards have separate numbers)
AS/NZS 1359: three phase electric motors - more details (note that some of these standards are AS only)
AS/NZS 4783: fluorescent lamp ballasts - more details
AS/NZS 4782: fluorescent lamps - more details
AS 2374 & AS 2735: distribution transformers - more details
AS 1731: commercial refrigeration - more details

Standards Australia have also published the test method for the measurement of standby power AS/NZS 62301-2005 and this is now available for purchase (based on the IEC standard of the same number). This standard will be referenced by some of the above test methods where standby requirements are specified. See the standby page for more details.

"Part 2" of the standard includes data on how to calculate star ratings and the comparative energy consumption (the energy number that appears on the label) for each model, details on the number of units to be tested, minimum performance requirements, application forms, check testing procedures, the design and shape of the energy label and how the label is to be affixed to the appliance (where applicable). Part 2 also contains any requirements for Minimum Energy Performance Standards for the particular appliance or equipment type (where applicable).

MEPS Requirements

Minimum Energy Performance Standards requirements for mains pressure electric storage water heaters are still found in AS1056.1 - this standard is currently under review and is being re-structured into the same Part 1/Part 2 format that has been used for other appliances.

Mandatory Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) levels for refrigerators, freezers and mains pressure electric storage water heaters first came into force on 1 October 1999. Mandatory Minimum Energy Performance Standards levels for three phase air conditioners (up to 65kW) and three phase electric motors (0.73kW to <185kW) came into force on 1 October 2001. Mandatory Minimum Energy Performance Standards levels for linear fluorescent lamp ballasts came into force on 1 March 2003.

MEPS levels have been introduced for the following products:

commercial refrigeration - 1 October 2004 (more details)
linear fluorescent lamps - 1 October 2004 (more details)
distribution transformers - 1 October 2004 (more details)
air conditioners: single phase - 1 October 2004 and also revisions to levels for 2006, 2007 and 2008 (more details)
air conditioners: three phase - 1 October 2007 (more details)
refrigerators and freezers - 1 January 2005 (more details)
small mains pressure water heaters (less than 80L) and vented and heat exchange electric water heaters - 1 October 2005 (more details)
three phase electric motors - 1 April 2006 (more details)

The following products are proposed for regulation in the future, subject to normal regulatory processes and approval by the Ministerial Council on Energy.

external power supplies (from 1 December 2008), New Zealand (April 2009);
Set top boxes (from 1 December 2008), New Zealand (April 2009);
Televisions;
Standby;
Boiling and chilled water dispensers;
Vending machines;
Commercial icemakers;
A range of lamp types;

A number of other products are being considered for energy labelling and MEPS programs (or will have existing levels revised). Details are available on this web site - see what's new and products being considered for regulation.

This page last modified 10 June 2008