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  5. Energy Efficiency Label for Air Conditioners Changed

Energy Efficiency Label for Air Conditioners Changed

- Public notice regarding the revision of the Label Display Program for Retailers promulgated -

Japanese

September 1, 2022

Energy and Environment Policy
On September 1, a public notice to stipulate specific items to be displayed in the Label Display Program for Retailers1 was partially revised and promulgated. With this, the energy saving label for air conditioners will change, enabling more detailed comparisons of energy efficiency performance.

1. Background

The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry discussed the Label Display Program for Retailers2 under the Act on Rationalizing Energy Use  in the Council3 on the program, and revised the multiple-scale scoring system and uniform energy saving label designs in November 2020 and August 2021. At the time, it was decided that the Label Display Program for Retailers for air conditioners—for which energy efficiency standards were still under consideration—would be revised based on the outcomes of the council's deliberations.

Now, with the formulation of new energy efficiency standards for air conditioners in May 2022,4 METI has gathered comments from the public regarding the revisions to the Label Display Program for Retailers, and partially revised and promulgated a public notice to stipulate specific items to be displayed in the Label Display Program for Retailers for home-use air conditioners (non-ducted wall-hung type) today.

2. Outline of the revisions to the Label Display Program for Retailers

(1) Revision of the design of the uniform energy saving label for air conditioners and new establishment of mini-labels, etc.

The uniform energy saving label for air conditioners has been redesigned to reduce repeated information, make it simpler and easier to understand, and to make the color scheme more visible to more people. In addition, in accordance with the new standards for air conditioners (target year: FY2027) which have new categories by specification (non-cold regions / cold regions), a new label for those for cold regions5 has been established. (See Figure 1)

Furthermore, new mini-labels have been established to ensure that retailers can provide energy-efficiency information even in limited spaces, such as on the products and online shop pages. (See Figure 2)

(2) Revision of the multiple-scale scoring system for air conditioners

The current five-star scoring system has been changed to a rating scale from 1.0 to 5.0 with increments of 0.1.

Moreover, while the number of stars is currently determined based on the achievement rate on the energy efficiency standards, 1 to 5 stars including half stars will be given according to the rating score calculated on the basis of the energy consumption efficiency (APF in case of air conditioners) after the revision.

[Reference] Example of label display (air conditioners)


Figure 1. New and old versions of the unified energy-efficiency label

Figure 2. Mini-labels

3. Promulgation and coming into effect

Promulgated on: September 1, 2022
Coming into effect on: October 1, 2022

The previous labels can be used for labeling air conditioners until September 30, 2023.

1. Measures to Be Taken by Retailers of Energy-Consuming Equipment and Other Business Operators that Are Able to Cooperate in Rationalizing General Consumers' Energy Use Through Their Business Activities
2. A system started in 2006 to encourage consumers to choose energy-efficient equipment by having retailers use labels (i.e., uniform energy saving labels) that clearly indicate the energy efficiency of air conditioners, etc.
3. Working Group on Classification Standards for Retail Labeling of the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Subcommittee of the Committee on Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy under the Advisory Committee for Natural Resources and Energy
4. New Energy Efficiency Standards Formulated for Home-use Air Conditioners (May 31, 2022)
5. Those expected to be used in cold regions and designed to prevent failure due to snowfall or low temperatures

Division in Charge

Energy Efficiency Division, Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Department, Agency for Natural Resources and Energy

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