Central air conditioners and central heat pumps
July 2022
Technical bulletin on amending the standards
The Office of Energy Efficiency at Natural Resources Canada (NRCan) intends to amend Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations (the Regulations) to align three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps with energy efficiency and testing standards in the United States, while taking into account Canadian climate conditions.
This technical bulletin has been released to initiate the consultation process and to collect stakeholder views on the requirements being considered for three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps.
Input received during this stage of the process will inform the development of the next amendments considered. In addition, NRCan will undertake a cost-benefit analysis using the best available Canadian market data to assess the economic and environmental impacts of these updated standards and to ensure Canadian consumers and businesses benefit from their implementation.
The Government of Canada intends to pre-publish a regulatory proposal in the Canada Gazette, Part I, in 2023.
Background
In Canada, three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps manufactured as of February 3, 1995, are subject to the Regulations.
Three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps use a significant portion of total residential building energy consumption. The energy efficiency standards for three-phase central air conditioners and heat pumps save energy and reduce energy costs for Canadians. The efficiency standards also reduce energy-related greenhouse gas emissions and help encourage manufacturers to adopt efficient product designs.
In 2018, the Memorandum of Understanding between the Treasury Board of Canada Secretariat and the United States Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs Regarding the Canada–United States Regulatory Cooperation Council was signed to move forward on energy efficiency and foster alignment of federal regulations where feasible and appropriate. In 2021, NRCan and the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) signed the Memorandum of Understanding Between the Department of Natural Resources of Canada and the Department of Energy of the United States of America Concerning Cooperation on Energy, which acknowledges that both countries will collaborate on new and updated energy efficiency and testing standards where feasible and appropriate.
On March 30, 2022, the U.S. DOE published a notice of proposed rulemaking pertaining to air-cooled, three-phase, small commercial air conditioners, and heat pumps. The proposed rulemaking would adopt an updated testing standard with new performance metrics, and prescribe more stringent energy efficiency standards for three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps (87 FR 18290). This U.S. rule will apply to products manufactured in or imported into the United States starting January 1, 2025.
NRCan is considering amending its Regulations to align with the testing standards of the U.S. DOE. NRCan is also considering making the optional -15°C (5°F) test point in the U.S. DOE testing requirements mandatory in Canadian regulations to better reflect operating conditions in Canada. Energy efficiency standards would be aligned with those of the U.S. DOE and reporting would include the -15°C (5°F) test point to account for Canadian climatic conditions and the efficiency metrics for Climate Region V (instead of Climate Region IV, as in the United States).
Product description
Three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps are air-source air conditioners and air-source heat pumps, with rated capacity of less than 19 kW (65,000 Btu/h). These include: single package, split system, ducted, ductless, space-constrained, and small-duct, high-velocity air conditioners and heat pumps.
Testing standard
NRCan is considering referencing the following testing standard, using an ambulatory incorporation by reference:
- ANSI/AHRI 210/240-2023 - 2023 Standard for Performance Rating of Unitary Air-conditioning & Air-source Heat Pump Equipment, with the following adjustments to accommodate the Canadian climate:
- The optional -15°C (5°F) test point in the U.S. DOE test procedure would become mandatory in Canadian regulations; and
- The HSPF2Footnote 1 metric that is used to evaluate compliance would be based on Climate Region V (instead of Climate Region IV, as in the United States).
If, and when, the U.S. DOE incorporates the above standard into its federal test standard, NRCan will consider referencing that test standard with the above adjustments for the Canadian climate.
Energy efficiency standard
The energy efficiency standards under consideration for three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps are summarized in the table below. Canadian HSPF2 energy efficiency standards for Climate Region V have been converted from U.S. HSPF2 energy efficiency standards for Climate Region IV, based on minimum performance levels expected for units tested to temperature test points required in the testing standard and the additional -15°C (5°F) test point.
| Product type | Product subcategory | SEER2a energy efficiency standard in the United States and Canada | HSPF2b (Climate Region IV) energy efficiency standard in the United States | HSPF2 (Climate Region V) energy efficiency standard in Canada |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Air conditioners other than those that are space constrained or small-duct-high-velocity with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr | Split system/ single package | 13.4 | - | - |
| Heat pumps other than those that are space constrained or small-duct-high-velocity with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr | Split system | 14.3 | 7.5 | 6.0 |
| Single package | 13.4 | 6.7 | 5.4 | |
| Space-constrained air conditioners with a cooling capacity less than 30,000 Btu/hr | Split system | 12.7 | - | - |
| Single package | 13.9 | - | - | |
| Space-constrained heat pumps with a cooling capacity less than 30,000 Btu/hr | Split system | 13.9 | 7.0 | 5.6 |
| Single package | 13.9 | 6.7 | 5.4 | |
| Small-duct, high-velocity air conditioners with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr | Split system | 13.0 | - | - |
| Small-duct, high-velocity heat pumps with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr | Split system | 14.0 | 6.9 | 5.5 |
| a Represents seasonal energy efficiency ratio 2. b Represents heating seasonal performance factor 2. |
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Text version
The title of the table is “Energy efficiency standards being considered for three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps”. The first column of the table provides the product type. The second column of the table provides the product subcategory. The third column of the table provides the seasonal energy efficiency ratio 2 (SEER2) for the United States (U.S.) and Canada. The fourth column of the table provides the heating seasonal performance factor 2 (HSPF2) for climate region IV in the U.S. Finally, the Fifth column of the table provides the heating seasonal performance factor 2 (HSPF2) for climate region V in Canada.
The first column of the table has six different product types, three types for three-phase central air conditioners and three types for three-phase central heat pumps. The three product types for three-phase central air conditioners are “air conditioners other than those that are space constrained or small-duct-high-velocity with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr”, “space-constrained air conditioners with a cooling capacity less than 30,000 Btu/hr” and “small-duct, high-velocity air conditioners with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr “. The three product types for three-phase central heat pumps are “heat pumps other than those that are space constrained or small-duct-high-velocity with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr”, “space-constrained heat pumps with a cooling capacity less than 30,000 Btu/hr” and “small-duct, high-velocity heat pumps with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr”.
The second column of the table further divides each product type for three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps into two product subcategories, “split-system” and “single package”.
The third, fourth and fifth columns of the table provide the SEER2 values for the U.S. and Canada, the HSPF2 values for climate region IV for the U.S. and the HSPF2 values for climate region V for Canada that each product type and product subcategory must meet or exceed respectively.
For “air conditioners other than those that are space constrained or small-duct-high-velocity with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr” for the subcategories “split-system” or “single-package”, the table illustrates that they must meet or exceed a SEER2 value of 13.4. for both in the U.S. and Canada with no HSPF2 requirements in column 4 and column 5. For “heat pumps other than those that are space constrained or small-duct-high-velocity with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr” for the subcategories “split-system” or “single package”, the table illustrates that they must meet or exceed a SEER2 value of 14.3 and 13.4 respectively, with a HSPF2 climate region IV value of 7.5 and 6.7 in the U.S. respectively and an HSPF2 climate region V value of 6.0 and 5.4 in Canada respectively.
For “space-constrained air conditioners with a cooling capacity less than 30,000 Btu/hr” for the subcategories “split-system” or “single package”, the table illustrates that they must meet or exceed a SEER2 value of 12.7 and 13.9 respectively with no HSPF2 requirements in column 4 and column 5. For “space-constrained heat pumps with a cooling capacity less than 30,000 Btu/hr” for the subcategories “split-system” or “single-package”, they must meet or exceed a SEER2 value of 13.9 for both in the U.S. and Canada, an HSPF2 climate region IV value of 7.0 and 6.7 in the U.S. respectively and an HSPF2 climate region V value of 5.6 and 5.4 in Canada respectively.
For “small-duct, high-velocity air conditioners with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr “ for the subcategory “split-system” only, they must meet or exceed a SEER2 value of 13.0 for both in the U.S. and Canada with no HSP2 requirements in column 4 and column 5. For “small-duct, high-velocity heat pumps with a cooling capacity less than 65,000 Btu/hr” for the subcategory “split-system” only, they must meet or exceed a SEER2 value of 14.0 in both the U.S. and Canada, an HSPF2 climate region IV value of 6.9 in the U.S. and an HSPF2 climate region V value of 5.5 in Canada.
Important dates
These modifications to the Regulations would come into force six months after the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
NRCan is considering applying the updated standards to products manufactured on or after January 1, 2025.
Labelling requirements
NRCan is not considering a mandatory EnerGuide labelling requirement. Voluntary labelling requirements would be considered in consultation with industry.
Verification requirements
NRCan is not considering any changes for the verification requirements for three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps.
These products will continue to carry a third party verification mark indicating that the product meets the efficiency standard and that the information to be reported has been verified.
The verification mark is the mark of a Standards Council of Canada accredited certification body that operates an energy efficiency certification program for the product.
Reporting requirements
Energy efficiency report
The energy efficiency report required for three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps would include the following information:
- SEER2
- Rated cooling capacity
- HSPF2 for Climate Region V and rated heating capacity at 8.3°C (47°F) for heat pumps
In addition, the energy efficiency report would require the following information to be reported for three-phase central heat pumps:
- Rated capacity at -15°C (5°F)
- COP at -15°C (5°F)
The Regulations apply to products imported or shipped inter-provincially for sale or lease in Canada. This report must be submitted, by the dealer, to NRCan before the product is imported into Canada or traded inter-provincially for the first time.
Import report
There is no change to import reporting.
Comments invited
The purpose of this bulletin is to provide stakeholders with the technical detail required to comment on the requirements under consideration for three-phase central air conditioners and three-phase central heat pumps.
It is important to NRCan that we engage the public and stakeholders on amendments to the Energy Efficiency Regulations. If you are aware of any dealer, manufacturer, importer, retailer, utility provider, small business, consumer group, organization, or representative of a specific group(s) of the population (including, but not limited to, women, 2SLGBTQQIA+ people, persons with disabilities, visible minorities, socio-economic status, residency, housing status, etc.), Indigenous peoples/communities, and/or other person or group that may be interested in participating in the amendment discussion and/or may be negatively impacted by this proposal, please forward them or the representative this bulletin. Please email equipment-equipement@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca to be added to the email distribution list (emails are used to notify stakeholders of upcoming amendments, technical bulletins, webinar registrations, and official publication in the Canada Gazette).
Additional information on Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations including a current list of Standards Council of Canada accredited certification bodies can be found on the Department’s website.
We welcome your comments by September 15, 2022. All correspondence should be forwarded to:
Natural Resources CanadaOffice of Energy Efficiency
580 Booth Street
Ottawa, ON, K1A 0E4
E-mail: equipment-equipement@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca
All correspondence should contain the following subject line:
Bulletin – Three-phase central air conditioners and central heat pumps – Climatiseurs centraux triphasés et thermopompes centrales triphasées - July 2022 juillet
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