Differences / Synergies between Energy Efficiency Test Methods for Refrigerators in APEC Region and with the new IEC 62552

The use of refrigerators accounts for a significant share of households’ energy consumption in the APEC region. In the US, it takes up to 13% of the total household electricity consumption; in Japan above 17%; in Thailand 20%; and in China more than 40%. The energy saving potential is huge in many developing economies. For example, following the results of a study conducted by the International Copper Association and the United Nations Environment Programme, if energy efficiency standards for refrigerators in ASEAN economies could be raised to EU level, the potential related energy savings corresponding to the use of these refrigerators could reach 8,531 GWh per year.
Energy efficiency (EE) standards are commonly used in different economies to promote energy savings of household appliances. Testing methods represent one of the most fundamental elements in applying energy efficiency standards. Currently, these testing methods differ greatly among APEC economies. This creates technical barriers to trade in the region, and to further improvement of energy efficiency.
EE labelling schemes are commonly applied and widely accepted by economies in APEC, which aim is to show the actual EE level of regulated products. However, different implementation requirements exist in APEC economies because of different characteristics of products and different utilization patterns and environmental factors. These differences make it difficult to understand and compare the energy efficiency levels of refrigerators: for example, for the same product, the tested energy consumption (and efficiency) shall ideally be consistent across economies, but in reality, with different testing methods, the energy efficiency index varies. From this perspective, there is a need for harmonization of the standards for the testing method to make testing reports comparable and have a better impact on regulating the EE of refrigerators (which are widely traded within the APEC region) through concerned efforts in MV&E.
The new IEC 62552 standard has developed one performance standard for household cooling appliances which will be used worldwide for energy efficiency classes (labels) and minimum efficiency performance limits. Since the test procedures and test conditions for the determination of the energy consumption under IEC 62552-3 are quite different compared to the standards currently used by APEC economies, the values for energy consumption will be different for all existing energy labels.
This report investigates the different EE requirements and evaluation schemes in APEC economies and compares energy consumption calculation results for refrigerators in various APEC economies. Further, deep survey of test methods in APEC economies has been carried out and analysed, differences of test methods for refrigerators have been identified and key factors affecting the energy consumption have been screened out.