High Efficiency Residential Central Air Conditioners

At a Glance

Category

planning

Status

under review

Fuel type

electric

Sector

residential

Applications

HVAC

Sunset date

Sep 30, 2024

This measure is the installation of a new high efficiency single speed or dual speed central air conditioner. Per the Council’s Northwest Regional Cost-Effectiveness test this measure is not cost-effective, primarily because the energy savings occur in the summer and therefore do not align with the regional winter peak or get the benefit of deferred generation. However, for summer peaking utilities, this measure might have greater value. At adoption, the RTF set the measure to Planning as there remains uncertainty around regional cooling loads and the relationship between SEER and EER and energy usage in the Pacific Northwest. RTF Staff has developed a Research Strategy to target this uncertainty.

Workbook

Latest Version

Residential Efficient Central Air Conditioners v2.2

Residential Efficient Central Air Conditioners v2.2

Based on an RTF decision at the July 2023 meeting, this version includes minimum SEER2 and EER2 levels to be met by qualifying units that do not have a SEER and EER rating. Updated cost effectiveness using procost version 5.08

Date

Aug 14, 2023

Version number

2.2

Past Versions

version	date	document
2.0	Apr 18, 2022	Residential Efficient Central Air Conditioners v2.0 Updated with 2021 Plan cost effectiveness methodology
1.1	Mar 10, 2020	Res Efficient Central Air Conditioners v1.1 Workbook adopted at January 2020 meeting. Completed QA/QC review.
1.0	Jan 23, 2020	Res Efficient Central Air Conditioners v1.0 Workbook adopted at January 2020 meeting. Currently undergoing QA/QC review.

Decisions

Expand All Decisions

Latest decision

Decision details

Decided

January 17, 2024

Update Measure Sunset Date

Decision Details

Extend the sunset date of Residential Central Air Conditioners to September 30, 2024.

Decided

July 18, 2023

Adopt measure changes

Decision Details

Adopt the minimum HSPF2, SEER2,and EER2 specifications as presented for the following UES measures as an interim solution until these measures are next updated and a longer-term approach agreed upon:
DHPs for Zonal Heat SF
DHPs for Zonal Heat MH
DHPs for Multifamily
DHPs for Forced Air Furnace SF and MH
ASHPs Upgrades and Conversion MH
ASHPs Upgrades and Conversion SF
High Efficiency Central AC

Decided

January 18, 2023

Extend Sunset Date and set Status to Under Review

Decision Details

Change the Status to Under Review;
Set the Sunset Date to January 31, 2024;
Keep the Category as Planning

Decided

April 21, 2020

Approved Research Strategy

Decision Details

Adopt the Research Strategy for the High Efficiency Residential Central Air Conditioner UES measures as presented and set the Measure Status to Active.

Decided

January 22, 2020

Adopt New Measure

Decision Details

Adopt the High Efficiency Residential Central Air Conditioners Measure:

Set the Category to Planning
Set the Status to Under Review
Set the Sunset Date to January 31, 2023
Add EER minimum thresholds in the measure identifiers consistent with the CEE specifications, using EER 13.0 for the SEER 17.0 identifier.

Decided

November 19, 2019

Allocate Resources to New Measure Development

Decision Details

Allocate resources to:

Small Commercial DHPs
Generator Engine Block Heaters
ENERGY STAR Air Purifiers
Non-Residential LED Wallpacks
Residential High Efficiency Central AC
Advanced Kitchen Ventilation Controls
Retrofit or Upgrade Doors on Existing Display Cases
Air Curtains for Walk-Ins
Floating Controls for Multiplex Refrigeration System
Display Case Upgrade and Replacement

Do not allocate resource to:

Workstation Power Management Devices
Anti-Fouling Refrigerant Additives
ENERGY STAR Dehumidifiers

Small/rural Checklist

Latest Version

January 2020 Residential High Efficiency Central AC Small/Rural Checklist

Checklist corresponds with the measure adopted at the January 2020 RTF meeting.

Date

Jan 22, 2020