Minimum Energy Performance Standards(MEPS)

This paper provides an update to swimming pool pump stakeholders following submissions on the Consultation Regulation Impact Statement (RIS) – Swimming Pool Pumps and decisions and outcomes from subsequent industry working group meetings held between June and November 2017. Topic updatesinclude:

•method of test

•minimum energy performance standards(MEPS)

•labelling products

•scope of regulation

•transition timeline; and

•product registration.

The department will propose the following in the swimming pool pump decision RIS to Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council ministers to take effect in Australia.

UPDATE: Proposed changes to pool pump regulations

1. Method of test

The Australian Standard AS 5102.1 – 2009 sets out the test and measurement arrangements for swimming pool pumpunits to determine compliance against minimum energy performance standards and mandatory labelling.The method of test as described in the standard will be amended to reflect the department and industry agreed position[1].

The method of test would apply to pump-units intended to be used in the operation of swimming pools and spa pools within the input range shown in the table in section 4. For single- and dual- speed pump-units, there is no minimum flow rate requirement. For multi- and variable-speed pump-units, a minimum flow rate of 120 litres per minute (L/min) when operating with the specified flow resistance (Curve D) must be met for at least one speed.The test procedure for dual speed pumps is to be repeated for each speed. The testing of multi and variable speed units will include measurements for maximum speed, high speed and low speed operation.

The test will use a weighted energy factor (WEF). WEF is the weighted average of the volume of water pumped in litres per watt hour of electrical energy consumed by the pump-unit, based on the pump operating 80 per cent of the time at the lower speed setting tested, and 20 per cent of the time at the higher speed setting tested.

The test will apply at the intersection point with Curve D only for minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) reporting. The full pump-unit performance curves (head versus flow rate and input electrical power versus flow rate) should be tested and reported for industry best practice. Pump and power curve graphs with data points should be required (refer figure A1 and A2 in AppendixA), providing a test check, and pumps should be tested to ‘0’ flow rate to illustrate their maximum head capability.

Classification

Pump-units will be classified according to the following criteria.

• Single speed pump - have a single discrete motor speed that is fixed by the manufacturer.
• Dual speed pump - have two discrete motor speeds that are fixed by the manufacturer. The speed settings may be selectable by the user or installer, but the user or installer cannot change the speed assigned to each discrete speed setting.
• Multi or variable speed pump-units - have three or more discrete motor speeds that are fixed by the manufacturer, continuously variable speeds, or discrete speed settings, where the assigned speed may be set or reset by the user or installer or a control system.

1. Minimum energy performances standards

The consultation RISidentified MEPS as the most efficient and effective method to increase the energy efficiency of swimming pool pumps in the residential sector in Australia. It also argues that energy rating labels (ERL) alone would not remove the market barriers affecting the purchase of more energy efficient pumps. In particular, the split incentives that operate within the market, divergent views within the industry around the value of variable speed pumps or the reductionof the large price differential between single speed pumps and variable speed pumps are unlikely to be resolved by ERLs.

The application of minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) would apply to pool pumps. A low level MEPS, that factors in pump size (more energy use is allowed for bigger pumps) would be the starting point for the introduction of MEPS with a transition to a medium level MEPS at a later stage.The spread of pool pump sales and MEPS levels are indicated in figure B1in AppendixB.

1. Labelling products

Setting MEPS can remove the least energy efficient pumps from the market.Labelling, however,can help consumers pick the best pumps for their pool, considering all factors, including energy efficiency. Consumers are interested in reducing energy costs for their pool, although, they generally know little about the energy efficiency performance of their pumps and don’t have easy access to information on how to reduce their electricity usage. Labelling would provide clear and easy to understand information to ensure pool pumps can be compared on a common basis.

The department will propose that mandatory labelling be applied to swimming pool pumps. AnERL would be required to be displayed on either the product, if displayed in store, or on the packaging at the point of sale. Displaying ERLs or star rating and pump curves in brochures and online would be voluntary.

The proposed ERL for pool pumps is a 10 star arch with ‘the more stars the more energy efficient’ text in the arch; pump brand, model, pump type, energy rating website text and identifying that the test is applicable to filtration pumps.The approximate size of the label is 94 mm (height) by 70 mm (width).Refer to figure 1.

Figure 1 – Proposed pool pump energy rating label

1. Scope of regulation

The department understands that there is limited scope to improve energy efficiency of single speed pumps used assolar pumps, booster cleaning pumps or similar specific purpose pumps. For example, solar heating pumps need to run at a continuous speed to deliver sufficient head to meet system requirements and the gains from using a more efficient variable speed pump may be limited.

At the moment, there are no physical pump characteristics that distinguish a filtration pool pump from a specific purpose pool pump. For this reason, MEPS on single speed pumps would be limited to a capacity between 600 watts and 1700 watts to predominately capture pumps usedfor filtration purposes.

Minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and mandatory labelling would apply to pool pumpunits within the input power range, as reported on the nameplate, as set out in Table 1.

Table 1 - MEPS scope - pool pump-unit input power range

Input power range between:
Watts / Amps / Watts / Amps
Single speed / 600 / 2.6 / and / 1700 / 7.4
Dual speed / 600 / 2.6 / and / 3450 / 15
Multi speed / 600 / 2.6 / and / 3450 / 15
Variable speed / 600 / 2.6 / and / 3450 / 15

1. Transition timeline

Transition to the new MEPS and labelling requirements and away from theVoluntary Energy Rating Labelling Program (VERLP)would begin in early 2020after standard AS5102.1 is revised.

The VERLP began in April 2010 and was intended as a transitional step leading to the introduction of mandatory labelling and MEPS requirements. The VERLP sits outside the compliance structure for products regulated under the GEMS Act and the administrative arrangements are different. With the introduction of MEPS and mandatory labelling, the VERLP would be redundant and will cease.

Transition to a low level MEPS and mandatory labelling would take effect the later of either 12months after the test standard amendments have been finalised through Standards Australia or in January2020. A medium level MEPSwouldtake effect in January2022, with a review of the effect of mandatory labelling and low level MEPS prior to this date.

It is expected that the Council of Australian Governments (COAG) Energy Council could consider the introduction of energy performance standards by mid-2018, which would give industry 18months to prepare for the new regulations, including:

• testing and verification of pool pumps
• transition of existing stock
• manufacturers to update their websites, packaging and product information
• product reengineering.

1. Product registration

All products within the scope of a pool pump minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and mandatory labelling requirements would need to be registered in the GEMS registration system before they can be offered for sale in Australia.

Family of models

The GEMS Act specifies that a registered product may cover more than one model in a family of models (product class). This means that if there are two or more pumps with the same characteristics, they may be grouped in a family and registered as a single product.

The existing standard, AS5102.1, (section 1.5.1 –model) defines a model as, “pump-units of one brand, to which a single set of test reports is applicable and where each of the pump-units has the same relevant physical characteristics, comparative energy consumption, energy efficiency rating and performance characteristics.” The definition would be amended to allow different brands in a family of models.

Public information

Information reported in the GEMS registration system will be considered further. Confidentiality legislation requires applicant details and test information to remain confidential, however, energy efficiency and product information would be available to the public. Pump curve data would be included on the public registration database on a voluntary basis. The department will continue to consult with industry on the development of the registration database in order to refine the type and form of information to be collected and made available to the public.

Appendix A

Graphical representation of pump-unit characteristics

Figure A1 - Example format for pump head versus flow characteristics and Curve D resistance

Figure A2 - Example format for pump-unit input power versus flow rate characteristics

Appendix B

Minimum energy performance standards

Figure B1 – Pool pump sales and low and medium level minimum energy performance standards (MEPS)

Formulas

Low level MEPS:

Medium level MEPS:

1

[1] The guide for determining pump-unit performance characteristics was developed and distributed to the swimming pool pump Technical Working Group for comment on 17 October 2017. The Guide to the use of AS 5102.1:2009 for the purpose of energy ratingprocedure is based on AS5102.1:2009 with additional requirements specified. A weighted energy factor (WEF) measure for multi-speed and variable-speed pump is specified. The WEF used in this program is similar to the measure specified in the United States Department of Energy Conservation Standards for Dedicated-Purpose Pool Pumps.