ENERGY STAR

Air Conditioners &

Heat Pumps
Proposed Installation Requirements for
SEER 14 Equipment
Brian Killins
Natural Resources Canada
May 4, 2006

Toronto, May 4 - 5, 2006

Table of Contents
Background
Efficiency and energy savings potential
Electricity peak demand reductions
Homeowner benefits
Development and Implementation Plan

AC/HP Market in Canada

About 250,000 per year

90% AC, 10% ASHP

Size about 85% are 2.5 tons and less

At 2 kw/AC, >500 MW peak demand

Increase of 1 EER yields 240 watt peak

reduction (for 2 ton AC)

Operating costs highly variable

Equipment Efficiency

April 1, 2006
SEER 14, EER 11.5, and HSPF V 7.1 (split)
January 1, 2009
SEER 14.5 , EER 12, and HSPF V 7.1 (split)
(2006 EE Regulations SEER 13, HSPF V 6.7)

Incidence of AC installations
Factors causing inefficiency
Oversizing

47%

Inadequate airflow

70%

Refrigerant charge outside

of manufacturer specs 44%
Source: Consortium for Energy Efficiency

Homeowner disconnect

Cannot tell if AC and HP are operating efficiently

Unaware of servicing costs
Bigger is better

AC Sizing
50% oversized by >25%
average oversizing of 1.39
1/3 contractors use rule of thumb and 40% admit
purposely oversizing, homeowner driven
20% downsizing possible yielding 4% energy
savings
potential savings 2-10%
Source: various studies

Reduced Airflow
AC efficiency
Interaction of fan, filter, coil, ductwork, & AC sizing
Studies 327 cfm per ton cooling (vs 400 cfm)
Impact on EER/SEER = 5%
Air circulation
Furnaces rated at 45 pa, typical 100 -125 pa
Typical air circulation power = 500 watts/1000 cfm
Impact of AC sizing, higher efficiency motor &
blowers, duct design
Source: various studies

Refrigerant Charge
Overcharging (33%) & undercharging (41%)
found
Fixed orifice type savings potential 10-20%
TXV type - 5% estimated energy savings
Overall 13% energy reduction
Source: various US studies

Heating systems
most are oversized >40%, some more than
100%
air circulation power increase from 13 to 28 w/kw
heating since 90, typical increase from 350 to
500 watts
Source: Phillips

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US ENERGY STAR says

up to 35% savings:
AC sizing

10%

Refrigerant charge

12%

Proper Air flow

Duct sealing

10%
15%

Sources:
CEE 2000 White Paper
(Consortium for Energy Efficiency)
US ENERGY STAR website

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Installation Criteria

Correct AC sizing & reduced air handling estimated potential impacts:

18 MW / yr peak electricity demand reduction
85 GW.h / year energy savings (equivalent to
SEER 10 to 13)
Source: Caneta Research report for NRCan

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Proposed installation requirements

Qualified equipment SEER, EER, and HSPF
Matched coil and outdoor unit
Circulation fan variable DC motor (ECM)
Sizing cooling, heating, ductwork
Access for maintenance
Field measurements refrigerant charge, air
flow, static pressure, blower electricity use
Field checks equipment #s, quality of
installation (duct sealing, access for cleaning,
etc)

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Proposed installation requirements

Verification process
Contractor training and qualifications
Energy Star labelling
Maintain ENERGY STAR principles
Pilots & Programs

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Conclusions / Next Steps

Expanded scope for ENERGY STAR
Significant potential
Expanded opportunity for industry
Schedule - 2007 for development of installation
criteria
Stakeholder meetings for input with
manufacturers, contractors, utilities, & others
Operationalize field measures, verification
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Contact Information

Brian Killins
613 947 8764
bkillins@nrcan.gc.ca
oee.nrcan.gc.ca

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