Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS)

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Act 2000 provides for regulations to be made prescribing minimum energy performance standards for energy-using products, and requirements in relation to the labelling of products in terms of their energy efficiency or proficiency in conserving energy. 

 

That Act gave rise to the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 which govern New Zealand's minimum energy performance standards for energy-using products. Under the Regulations, new products entering the market must meet or exceed minimum energy performance criteria before they can be sold in New Zealand. The energy performance criteria and testing requirements are set out in national or international standards or handbooks, usually joint Australia/New Zealand Standards based, whenever possible, on international standards. The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority works in partnership with Australian Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies to align standards and labelling requirements wherever possible for products sold in both markets under the Equipment Energy Efficiency (E3) Program. 

 

MEPS are currently in place for seventeen product classes. They are: Air conditioners/heat pumps (non-ducted; ducted; and multiple split systems); Ballasts for fluorescent lamps; Computer room air conditioners; Commercial Chillers; Compact fluorescent lamps; Computers & Laptop; Computer monitors; Distribution transformers (oil filled and dry type); Electric storage water heaters; External power supplies; Gas water heaters; Domestic fridges and freezers; Linear fluorescent lamps; Set-top boxes; Televisions; Refrigerated display cabinets; Three-phase electric motors.   

 

The forward work plan identifies other products for investigation (and/or more stringent standards), including fans, hot water systems, industrial equipment and LED lamps.

 

In the 2016/17 year more than 6.2 million appliances and products subject to labelling and regulation were bought by people in NZ. They included heat pumps, televisions, computers, whiteware, and more than 3.1 million light bulbs. This saved more than 133 GWh of electricity, 18,400 tonnes of carbon, and for the consumers, it also meant a saving of $11.7 million.

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