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The key facts about ENER LOT 21, or directive (EU) 2016/2281, for air heating and cooling products, high temperature process chillers and fan coil units in respect of air conditioners and comfort chillers.
Vienna, December 15th 2017 – The latest in a series of phased implementations under the European Commission (EC) to increase energy efficiency and reduce carbon emissions throughout Europe, the Ecodesign Directive sees ENER Lot21 come into force in the New Year. The new regulation will apply from 1 January 2018 to air heating products, cooling products, high temperature process chillers and fan coil units
The EC has been working to establish EU-wide rules to increase energy efficiency and help consumers through more transparent data and better reporting requirements for all energy related products, which include refrigeration, space heating and cooling products. The Ecodesign Directive (2009/125/EC) has seen the phased implementation of minimum requirements, alongside the introduction of a more realistic way of comparing system efficiency for the energy and environmental performance of energy-using products (EuP) and energy-related products (ErP)
What is included?
The scope of the ENER LOT21 legislation covers:
- Air conditioners - all air conditioners over 12 kW, with specific requirements for both cooling and heating.
- Comfort chillers
- Cooling only chillers up to 1,500kW
- Reversible chillers from 400 kW to 1,500kW (reversible chillers up to and including 400kW are excluded from the regulation as being covered by directive (EC) 813/2013 with regard to Ecodesign requirements for space heaters and combination heaters)
- Heating only chillers are excluded from the regulation, with no minimum heating requirements specified.
Product group | Capacity range | Cooling requirements apply | Heating requirements apply | |
Air to Air | Air conditioners | >12 kW | YES | YES |
Rooftops | >12 kW | YES | YES | |
Air/water brine to water | Cooling only | ≤ 400kW | YES | Not applicable |
Reversible | ≤ 400kW | exempted | ENER LOT 1 | |
Heating only | ≤ 400kW | Not applicable | ENER LOT 1 | |
Air/water brine to water | Cooling only | >400kW to 1500 kW | YES | YES |
| Reversible | >400kW to 1500 kW | YES | YES |
| Heating only | >400kW to 1500 kW | YES | YES |
For Daikin, this includes part of our Sky Air systems (the ones not covered under ENER LOT10), our rooftop units, our VRV systems and our cooling only chillers and reversible chillers above 400kW (the ones not covered by ENER LOT1). *
Meeting energy goals
The minimum efficiency requirements set for cooling for air conditioners under the new regulations are the highest to be set since the introduction of ENER lot 10. The new standards reflect the ambition of the European Commission in delivering real reductions of energy consumption across the European market by driving the market to more energy efficient products.
The use of primary energy as a performance indicator
The minimum requirements are expressed in primary energy efficiency called ηs,c and ηs,h (read as “etas cooling” or “etas heating”). This measure is based on a formula derived from the product’s seasonal energy efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP).
The use of primary efficiency as an indicator of efficiency follows on from its initial implementation under (EU) 813/2013 (LOT1 / 2) related to space heating. Providing consistency, it allows easy comparison of products using different energy sources. It should be noted that ENER lot 21 also covers gas heaters and therefore it was deemed relevant to use primary energy efficiency. Other regulations will follow suit in using the new indicator.
Chart 1: Comparison of minimum efficiency requirements (ETA values %) for tier 1 and tier 2 for LOT21 and LOT 10
Seasonal Efficiency vs. Nominal Efficiency - what’s the difference?
Seasonal efficiency has been applied to our products since the launch of Daikin’s seasonal Sky Air range in 2012 to compare the efficiency of products in preference to nominal efficiency. A much more realistic way of comparing the actual operation of these units, Seasonal efficiency takes into account the variations in outdoor temperature which occur throughout the year and the amount of times they occur.
By comparison nominal efficiency, which is occasionally still used, evaluates the efficiency of the system based on a fixed outdoor temperature of 35°C for cooling or 7°C for heating, which is not representative when applied across a whole year of operation. The new method of calculation therefore provides a much more realistic estimate of performance in use. In addition to ‘in use’ energy consumption, seasonal efficiency also considers other factors such as ‘standby’ mode, ‘off’ mode and crankcase heater consumption. This also contributes to a more realistic indication of the performance of the product.
An important point to bear in mind is that, for cooling operation, a full comparison can only be made for systems with same Pdesign point. For heating operation, where there will usually be a difference between systems, specifiers are advised to check if Pdesign point for the products they are comparing is equal in every case.
Transparent communication
Manufacturers will be required to publish the data on the operational efficiency, sound etc of their products, together with installation manuals and information about recycling, via a free access website. This will enable users to compare the efficiency of different systems more easily and transparently. From 01/01/2018 onwards Daikin will publish all the LOT21 data on its free access website and business portals.
And the bottom line for you?
The new regulations are good news all round. More transparency and the availability of improved data will enable owners, consultants and other specifiers to make a better choice, based on more realistic efficiency information.
As a leading manufacturer of HVAC-R systems, Daikin continues to forge ahead with its R&D programme, designed to bring to market new products and features aiming at delivering maximum energy efficiency and the highest performance possible.
More Information you can find here.