AC Testing Standards are outdated
Air Conditioning (AC) Testing Standards are outdated and don’t accurately reflect humidity conditions and performance
Details
Core information and root causes
Amendments to current AC testing standards are needed to accurately characterize the real-world performance of super-efficient ACs. - Global Cooling Efficiency Accelerator (GCEA)
Context
The current testing standard underestimates the real-world energy use of ACs, especially in warm and humid climates. This is largely due to extra energy used by typical ACs to control humidity, which is not measured by today’s test method or reflected in AC performance metrics. When ACs fail to manage humidity, users tend to overrun the AC and overcool the room to achieve comfort. This results in significantly more energy consumption, straining electricity grids and increasing costs for customers. Current AC testing standards do not capture this excess energy use when rating ACs for efficiency. So, while consumers seek to make conscious, cost-advantageous purchasing decisions by looking at the star label, they do not get accurate information on lifetime energy use and costs associated with today’s AC products.- Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) Report: Bringing Super Efficient Air Conditioners to the Market (April 2025)
Efforts
Current initiatives and solutions
- Global Cooling Efficiency Accelerator (GCEA): The GCEA, which includes a broad base of partners with deep technical and policy expertise and industry know-how, is working to establish the necessary preconditions and scientific data-based evidence to pave the way for bringing super-efficient ACs to the marketplace.
Approach
Strategic approach and implementation plan
Recommendations from Global Cooling Efficiency Accelerator
Update AC performance metrics and testing standards to accurately characterize the real-world performance of super-efficient ACs. This involves:
Identifying the gap in current testing standards through scientific experiments and measured data. This means highlighting the additional energy use for overcooling due to inefficient dehumidification and making a case for incorporating it in standards.
Updating the test methodology and performance metric to be adopted by standard-setting bodies and policymakers. This means recognizing efficient dehumidification performance in future standards and performance rating systems.