Air conditioners 65 kW and under

The Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Amendment Regulations 2020 came into force on 1 July 2021. The 2020 regulations include changes to Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and Mandatory Energy Performance Labelling (MEPL) requirements for air conditioners.

Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Amendment Regulations 2020(external link)

Key points:

• Air conditioners manufactured in New Zealand, or imported prior to 1 July 2021, will still fall under the 2002 Regulations and can legally be sold without meeting the 2020 Regulation requirements.
• Air conditioners manufactured in New Zealand, or imported from 1 July 2021, must meet the 2020 Regulations requirements.
• Residential/labelled air conditioners: On 1 July 2021, all MEPS and MEPL (residential/labelled) air conditioner registrations to the 2002 Regulations were superseded. Existing stock in New Zealand that was registered to the 2002 Regulations can still be sold.
• Commercial/non-labelled air conditioners: On 1 July 2022, all MEPS only (commercial/non-labelled) air conditioner registrations to the 2002 Regulations were superseded. Existing stock in New Zealand that was registered to the 2002 Regulations can still be sold.
• On 1 July 2021 the ability to register to the 2002 Regulations was removed. 
• If an air conditioner is registered in Australia, it can be sold in New Zealand without being registered in New Zealand. It must still meet the New Zealand Regulations requirements in order to be sold in New Zealand, including meeting the New Zealand MEPS and MEPL requirements.
• If an air conditioner is manufactured in or imported through Australia, the TTMRA can be applied.

TTMRA requirements

• It is recommended that if your product requires a Zoned Energy Rating Label that it is registered to either the 2020 NZ Regulations or the Australian 2019 Air Conditioner Determination. This is because the product registration system generates the ZERL based on information provided at point of registration using the SEER methodology.

If you have any questions about the transition between the 2002 regulations and 2020 regulations, contact us at star@eeca.govt.nz

There have been a number of changes:

• There is a new label, called the Zoned Energy Rating Label (ZERL)
• Cooling MEPS levels have increased in New Zealand to mirror Australian MEPS levels
• Single and double duct portable air conditioning units are now included in the regulations
• Registration of multi-split units has changed.

MEPS applies to all air conditioners that:

• Use the vapour compression cycle, and
  • are air-to-air or water-to-air, and 
  • have a cooling capacity or heating capacity (for heating only products) of 65kW or less, and are
  • Single and/or three phase, and
  • Ducted and/or non-ducted, and
  • Unitary or single-split or multi-split, or
  • Portable unitary single or double duct units.

The air conditioner may incorporate any of the following extra features:

• Air purification
• Ventilation
• Heat recovery
• Water heating, and
• A heating element for air heating.

MEPL applies to all air conditioners that:

• Have a cooling capacity or heating capacity of less than 30kW, and are:
  • Portable unitary single or double duct units, or
  • Single phase, and 
  • Single-split or unitary, and
  • Non-ducted, and
  • Not a ceiling cassette type. 

MEPL is optional for other types of air conditioners.

View the scope of the Regulations (schedule 2A, part 1, clause 2)(external link)

View all MEPL requirements (schedule 2A, part 3, clause 11)(external link)

MEPS and MEPL requirements do not apply to:

• Close control air conditioners
• Liquid-chilling packages
• Cooling systems that do not use a vapour compression cycle (e.g. evaporative coolers)
• Ground-water air conditioners
• Ground-loop air conditioners
• Spot coolers
• Dehumidifiers
• Mains-powered air conditioners specifically designed for installation in mobile applications (e.g. caravans, mobile homes, camper vans, boats and rail cars)
• Mains-powered air conditioners specifically designed for installation in specialised high temperature industrial applications (e.g. crane cabins used over blast furnaces).

MEPL does not apply to non-ducted, single split, single phase air conditioners that are:

• Designed for non-residential applications, and
• Not on display for sale through retail outlets and not promoted in any catalogue or advertising material that could be interpreted as suitable for some residential applications.

View all products not covered by the Regulations (schedule 2A, part 1, clause 3(external link))

The MEPS requirements for air conditioners are minimum AEER and ACOP values that the air conditioner must meet under test conditions.

AEER is the Annual Energy Efficiency Ratio for cooling. It is defined as the ratio of the cooling capacity (rated or tested) to the effective power input (rated or tested) for cooling and standby power. This test is conducted at an outside temperature of 35°c.

ACOP is the Annual Coefficient of Performance for heating. It is defined as the ratio of the heating capacity (rated or tested) to the effective power input (rated or tested) for heating and standby power. This test is conducted at an outside temperature of 7°c.

View the MEPS levels (schedule 2A, part 1, clause 2(1) - 2020 Regulations)(external link)

Specific testing requirements are outlined in schedule 2A part 4.

View schedule 2A part 4(external link)

For non-ducted air conditioners: 

• AS/NZS 3823.1.1:2012: Performance of electrical appliances— Air conditioners and heat pumps—Part 1.1: Non-ducted air conditioners and heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance.

For ducted air conditioners:

• AS/NZS 3823.1.2:2012: Performance of electrical appliances— Air conditioners and heat pumps—Test methods—Ducted air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance.

For multi-split air conditioners:

• AS/NZS 3823.1.4:2012: Performance of electrical appliances— Air conditioners and heat pumps—Part 1.4: Multiple split-system air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating for performance.

Alternative test methods for VRF type multi-split outdoor units and products > 30kW (schedule 2A, part 4, clause 46)(external link)

Single duct portable air conditioners:

• AS/NZS 3823.1.5:2015: Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 1.5: Non ducted portable air-cooled air conditioners and air-to-air heat pumps having a single exhaust duct—Testing and rating for performance.

Water-to-air air conditioners: 

• AS/NZS 3823.1:2005: Performance of electrical appliances—Air conditioners and heat pumps. Part 1.3: Water-source heat pumps—Water-to-air and brine-to-air heat pumps—Testing and rating of performance

An outline of the ZERL can be found can be found on the product labels page. This label is generated by the E3 registration system when a product is registered, based on the information provided by the manufacturer. 

Calculations behind the ZERL (schedule 2A part 3)(external link)

Sound levels are optional for New Zealand registered products. If you choose to display sound levels on the ZERL then the product must be registered with sound information. The test Standards for sound are listed below:

• EN 12102:2013 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, heat pumps and dehumidifiers with electrically driven compressors for space heating and cooling. Measurement of airborne noise. Determination of the sound power level.
• EN 12102-1:2017 Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, heat pumps, process chillers and dehumidifiers with electrically driven compressors - Determination of the sound power level - Part 1: Air conditioners, liquid chilling packages, heat pumps for space heating and cooling, dehumidifiers and process chillers.

Tests must be conducted using the installation and operating conditions of:

• The standard cooling full capacity test, or
• for heating only products, the standard heating full capacity test.

Various local councils run schemes that allow homeowners to buy an approved heat pump/air conditioner and pay it back over time through their rates. To be approved, a heat pump/air conditioner must meet certain performance criteria.

Learn more about how to apply for a scheme