Stay cool with less work: China's new energy-efficiency standards for air conditioners

Date Published
03/2008
Publication Type
Journal Article
Authors
DOI
10.1016/j.enpol.2007.11.019
Abstract

In response to electricity shortages, China announced a new set of minimum energy-efficiency standards for room air conditioners (RACs), with the first tier going into effect on March 1, 2005 and the second tier taking effect on January 1, 2009. This paper first reviews the requirements of the new Chinese standards for air conditioners and compares them to similar standards in other countries. It then presents results from an analysis of the cost-effectiveness of the standards and the impact of the new standards on energy savings, electric generation capacity, and CO2 emissions reductions. China's recent efforts to regulate the efficiency of RACs will yield significant consumer economic savings as well as avoided construction of a large number of power plants and avoided emissions of GHG and other local pollutants.

Journal
Energy Policy
Volume
36
Year of Publication
2008
Issue
3
Pagination
1090 - 1095
ISSN Number
03014215
Short Title
Energy Policy
Keywords
Organizations
Research Areas
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