Buy Sustainable - Quick Wins

Air conditioning units (air cooled, cooling only)

Purchase of energy efficient air conditioning units to reduce the amount of energy consumed throughout the life cycle, with a reduction in F gas emissions

MINIMUM Mandatory Specification(s)

1.  Units under 12 kW must have Household Air Conditioners Energy Efficiency Class B or better (see page 10)
2.  Units over 12 kW must have an Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER) of better than 3.00, as in Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme
3.  Must not use chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs) as refrigerants
4.  Must not use virgin hydrochlorofluorocarbons (HCFCs) as refrigerants
5.  Hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) must only be used where other safe, technically feasible, cost effective and more environmentally acceptable alternatives do not exist, in accordance with government policy

Legislation will prohibit the use as refrigerants of virgin HCFCs from 31 December 2009 and all HCFCs from 31 December 2014 (see F gas support, pages 5 and 6). Information on alternatives can be found on the Defra website

BEST PRACTICE Specification(s)

1.  Units under 12 kW have Household Air Conditioners Energy label Class A (see page 10)
2.  Units over 12 kW have an EER of better than 3.00, as in Enhanced Capital Allowance scheme
3.  Does not use CFCs as refrigerants
4.  Does not use HCFCs as refrigerants
5.  Does not use HFCs as refrigerants where other safe, technically feasible, cost effective and more environmentally acceptable alternatives exist

Legislation will prohibit the use as refrigerants of virgin HCFCs from 31 December 2009 and all HCFCs from 31 December 2014 (see F gas support, pages 5 and 6). Information on alternatives can be found on the Defra website