Air-Conditioner and Commercial Refrigeration Advisory Committee Meeting 12

Minutes

Air-conditioner and Commercial Refrigeration Advisory Committee Meeting 12

12 November 2015, 2.00 – 5.00 pm AEDT, Hotel Pullman, Sydney Olympic Park

Chair:Sara Williams, Department of Industry, Innovation and Science (DIIS)

Attendees and Apologies See Attachment A

SecretariatDavid Rochford (DIIS)

Agenda Item 1:Administration

1.1 Welcome and housekeeping

The Chair (Sara Williams, DIIS) welcomed all attendees andintroducedherself and the DIIS staff who were present. She thanked AREMA for helping facilitate the venue for the meeting.

1.2 Apologies and attendees

See Attachment A.

1.3 Acceptance of agenda

The agenda was accepted as presented.

1.4 Acceptance of previous meeting minutes

The previous meeting minutes were moved by Peter Wilkinson (Mitsubishi Electric/Airconditioning & Refrigeration Equipment Manufacturers Association of Australia (AREMA) and seconded by Mark Padwick (Sanden/AREMA).

1.5 Action Items from Meeting 11

Action items addressed from the last meeting were noted:

The Minutes from Meeting10were published on the Energy Rating website.
The ACRAC Secretariat circulated a copy of the US Department of Energy’s Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) type document for portable air conditioners on 15 Mayby email, and provided an out-of-session paper regarding the Close Control Air Conditioner (CCAC) definition and scope. Ben Costelloe (Cooling & Heating Appliances Team (CHAT)) explained to the meeting that CCAC systems with a compressor on the outdoor unit have actually always required an exemption from the air conditioner standard (AS/NZS 3823.2) and this remains the requirement under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (Air conditioners and Heat Pumps) Determination 2013. The exemption form will be forwarded to ACRAC members and can be found on the Energy Rating website.
The action item regarding Dwayne Purdy circulating the ductwork and insulation product profiles for ACRAC consultation was not completed. The Chair addressed this further in Agenda Item 2.
The action item regarding Kris McCoy informing ACRAC of E3’s decision on whether to continue with the Smart Appliances (Demand Response) RIS was not completed. The Chair addressed this further in Agenda Item 2.

Agenda Item 2:Department/team update

The Chair explained thatthe department was now named the Department of Industry, Innovationand Science. The Hon Christopher Pyne MP is the Minister for Industry, Innovation and Science while the Hon Josh Frydenberg MP is the Minister for Resources, Energy and Northern Australia. While both are senior cabinet Ministers,the Hon Josh FrydenbergMP is the Appliance Energy Efficiency Branch’s relevant Minister.

An organisational chart was provided, showing that the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) program now sits under a new COAG reporting structure.E3 reports to the Energy Working Group which sits under the Senior Committee of Officials (Chaired by Steven Kennedy, a Deputy Secretary in DIIS). This sits under the COAG Energy Council, which is Chaired by Minister Frydenberg.

Other changes that have occurred to the branch include:

the appointment of Michelle Crocker as the Branch General Manager and GEMS Regulator.
Warren Baldsing from CHAT has moved to the Clean Energy Regulator.
Kristy McCoy of the Consumer Appliance Team has taken maternity leave and Richard (Rick) Miles is the new manager.
Dwayne Purdy from the Policy and Technical Analysis Team has left the Branch and Dayne Thompson is acting manager of the team.

Other team milestones mentioned were:

Imminent release of report on the latest round of focus group testing of the Zoned Label.The Zoned Energy Rating Label - Findings of qualitative focus group testing of new energy labels report can be found here.
Imminent release of a report on the development of a Zoned Map for Solar Water Heaters.
Publication of the Research Report Gas space heaters – performance testing & energy labelling.

The Chair then described how the E3 program was undergoing a full prioritisation process to identify the policy changes/products that are projected to yield the most netbenefits to the community. This should be finalised at the E3 meeting at the end of the month and the results relayed to industry through the subsequent E3 Review Committee meeting. Sara suggested that industry representatives should seek clarification at E3 Review if the status of the ductwork and insulation product profiles and the Smart Appliances (Demand Response) RISare not made clear during that meeting.

Action Item 3: The Secretariat to circulate links to the new Zoned Label report and Solar Zone Map for solar water heaters report once they are released on the Energy Rating website.

Agenda Item 3:Update – Zoned Energy Rating Label

Gemma Godwin (CHAT) gave the group a presentation on the latest work on the Zoned Energy Rating Label (Zoned Label). Gemma recapped the reasons E3 has been investigating the introduction of a new enhanced energy efficiency label. She illustrated the current Energy Rating Label’s shortcomings for appliances like air conditioners where their performance and energy efficiency is affected by the location in which they are installed, and described the benefits of a Zoned Label. Milestones for the development process of the new label were recapped before exploring the preliminary results of the 2015 qualitative testing, with the report expected to be released in late November (following E3).

Gemma then briefly outlined the development of a threezone solar map for solar hot water systems. Initial work indicated that the solar map will be quite similar to the threezone air conditioner and heat pump water heater map with which ACRAC are familiar.

Action Item 4: The Secretariat to circulate Gemma’s presentation on the Zoned Energy Rating Label update.

Agenda Item 4:Update – Energy Rating website update

Gemma gave the group a brief update on the recent substantial changes to the Energy Rating website. She pointed out that work is already underway to upgrade the new cost calculator (the NSW/Victorian SmarterChoice tool). This has a number of problems that the web team is working to solve as part of a round of enhancements. Comments on the new website are to be directed to Laura Bergan ().

Agenda Item 5:Update –Air conditioner RIS

Ben Costelloe (CHAT) gave a brief update on the progress of the air conditioner consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS). He presented a timeline as a reminder of the steps involved in the RIS process. It is currentlygoing through the approval process, which involves internal departmental approvals, New Zealand, the E3 Committee, and the Office of Best Practice Regulation. Ben explained that putting dates on the timeline was impossible because all of the approval processes are outside the control of the team.

Sara Williams assured the meeting that an ACRAC meeting will be called as soon as the Consultation RIS is able to be released.

Agenda Item 6:Standards

The Secretariat (David Rochford) reiterated that the single exhaust duct (portable) air conditioner test standard had been published on 24 August, 2015. As was mentioned in the email notification sent to ACRAC on the same day, potential regulatory options for portables will be explored through the imminent release of the air conditioner RIS. It was also noted that this new Australian/New Zealand standard was going to be used by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) as the basis for a new ISO test standard with only minor changes expected. David then thanked the Standards Committee for their work, singling out the efforts of Allan Tayler, Satya Mavuri, Mark Peristy, Colin Doyle and Rob Beggs.

Rob Beggs (Chair of Standards Committee EE-001) informed the group that work was continuing on the Residential Air Conditioner Installation Standard. The committee had been expanded to include some more expertise, particularly in the field of installers.He reiterated that the scope of the standard covers domesticducted and non-ducted air conditioners of the vapour compression cycle. This scope could be expanded in later editions to cover additional products, such as ducted gas heaters. Another committee meeting is planned for February.

Agenda Item 7:Update – Refrigerated display and storage cabinets consultation RIS

Brian Fitzgerald from New Zealand’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority (EECA) presented an update paper on the refrigerated display and storage cabinets consultation RIS.The RIS is still being developed and is undergoing revision as it is being drafted. One issue that has presented difficulties is the lack of availability of Australian sales data. A number of options for aligning with new and proposed European regulations are being investigated. Any questions should be addressed to Lisa Sinclair at EECA (). Extra sales data or sales information would be appreciated. Peter Brodribb from The Expert Group or Lisa would appreciate contact from industry members with further information.

Action Item 5: Industry to consider providing Australian sales data or information for RDCs and RSCs to Lisa Sinclair or Peter Brodribb to improve the data and assumptions for the refrigerated display and storage cabinets consultation RIS.

Agenda Item:8Update – Energy Efficiency Compliance Team

Simone Tiele of the Energy Efficiency Compliance Team gave the group an update on E3’s compliance activities. Simone explained that as part of the release of the new E3 website, compliance now has a much bigger presence including information on processes, policies and outcomes reports. Two reports with the results of check testing for July-December2014 and January -June2015 have just been released and are available on the website.

The GEMS Regulator has now appointed around 20 GEMS inspectors, including six in Western Australia and two in Victoria.Each month, inspectors are out conducting registration and labelling surveys. The results of monitoring activities will be posted on the E3 website and highlighted in the E3 newsletter once analysed.

During 2014-15the Compliance Team finalised check tests on 159 models of GEMS products. The results are summarised below:

Product Type / Number of Models Tested / Passed Stage 1 / Failed Stage 1
Self-ballasted CFLs / 36 / 33 / 3
Linear fluorescent lamps / 13 / 11 / 2
Televisions / 11 / 10 / 1
Household refrigerators and freezers / 13 / 12 / 1
Clothes dryers / 18 / 15 / 3
Computers / 23 / 23 / -
Dishwashers / 18 / 17 / 1
Three phase cage induction motors / 4 / 4 / -
Clothes washing machines / 6 / 4 / 2
Air conditioners / 6 / 3 / 3
Computer Monitors / 11 / 10 / 1
159 / 142 / 17

Of the 17 products that failed, five passed stage 2 testing, two were referred to the Water Efficiency Labelling and Standards scheme (WELS) and ten were cancelled. Models cancelled are listed in the recently released check testing reports and include theOlimpia Splendid Unico 9hp AUNZN air conditioner which was cancelled 17 October 2014.

So far in 2015-16, Compliance have completed check tests on three air conditioners. Two passed and one failed which was subsequently cancelled at the request of the registrant (Pioneer International GTIO-100A6/GTE-100A6) on5 November. Compliance expects to test another six air conditioners in 2015-16.Five solar air conditioners are being tested for compliance against GEMS requirements, as well as against supplier claims of energy efficiency savings with the solar panels operating.

Furthermore, Compliance are testing around five models of refrigerated display cabinet and visiting suppliers of products to ensure they are aware of their obligations under GEMS. Results of inspections will be reported as part of the GEMS monitoring reports.

Other Items

The Chair suggested that the next ACRAC meeting could be Thursday 11 February 2016 - dependent on progress with the air conditioner RIS approvals process. Chris Menictas from University of NSW (Mechlab) offered the newly renovated Mechlab testing facility for the next ACRAC meeting. The offer was accepted subject to further liaison with Chrisas required.

Action Item 6: The Secretariat to organise the next ACRAC meeting (11 February 2016) and investigate holding it the University of NSW (Mechlab).

Meeting closed:4.25 pm

Action Items

Action Item 1: DIIS to place minutes of Meeting 11 on the Energy Rating Website.
Action Item 2: DIIS to circulate a link to the Application for exemption from requirements of GEMS determination form. The form can be used for seeking exemption from the Air Conditioner Determination for CCAC products whose configuration sees them excluded from the CCAC Determination but subject to the Air Conditioner Determination.
Action Item 3: The Secretariat to circulate links to the new Zoned Label report and Solar Zone Map for solar water eaters report once they are released on the Energy Rating website.
Action Item 4: The Secretariat to circulate Gemma’s presentation on the Zoned Energy Rating Label update.
Action Item 5: Industry to consider providing Australian sales data or information for RDCs and RSCs to Lisa Sinclair or Peter Brodribb to improve the data and assumptions for the refrigerated display and storage cabinets consultation RIS.
Action Item 6: The Secretariat to organise the next ACRAC meeting (11 February 2016) and investigate holding it the University of NSW (Mechlab).

Attachment A

Attendees
Colin Doyle / CESA / Graham Hamilton / Mitsubishi Heavy / Tim Edwards / ARA
Ken Ball / Teco/AREMA / Robert Beggs / Daikin/AIG/CESA / David Rochford / DIIS
Glen Evans / ARC / Chris Menictas / UNSW / Ed Tutty / Bitzer
John Taylor / Mitsubishi Electric / Peter Cashel / Fujitsu / Ben Costelloe / DIIS
Greg Picker / AREMA / Pat Corcoran / Brivis Rinnai Australia / Garry Knox / Daikin
Mark Padwick / AREMA / Peter Wilkinson / Mitsubishi Electric / David Jenkins / VIPAC
Phil Wilkinson / AIRAH / Daniel Goodhand / Electrolux / Simone Tiele / DIIS
Mark Ebert / Stulz Australia / Dora Bettridge / VIPAC / Gemma Godwin / DIIS
Greg Bridges / Seeley International / Alan Channells / AREMA/Temperzone / Rafiqul Islam / Hussmann
Peter Brodribb / Expert Group / Glenn Townsend / AHI Carrier / Brian Fitzgerald / EECA
John Borke / Fujitsu / James Thomson / AIG / Yohnny Yip / Actron Air
Greg Groppenbacher / AREMA
By phone:
Brad Dunn / Williams Refrigeration / Adrian Kerr / Temperzone NZ / Lauren Sewell / DIIS
Jonathan Fryer / ISECO Engineering Services
Apologies
Mark Peristy / CSIRO