The Consumer Council on Thursday said that the cooling energy efficiency for air-conditioners can differ substantially even though they all have a grade one energy label.

It collaborated with the Electrical and Mechanical Services Department (EMSD) to test 13 models of 1.5 horsepower inverter split-type air conditioners ahead of the summer season.

It found that their cooling seasonal performance factor (CSPF) ranged between 5.057 and 7.510 — a difference of 33 percent.

A higher CSPF value indicates greater energy efficiency.

The council's chief executive Alaina Shum said the EMSD should review and refine its energy efficiency grading standards that have been in place for over a decade to better help the public opt for products with higher energy efficiency.

"The test revealed substantial differences in cooling energy efficiency among the samples, reflecting that some products still have considerable room for improvement in terms of the energy efficiency from a technical perspective," she said

Consumers can pay attention to the annual energy consumption figures listed on the energy label when choosing between models that fall in the same rating level, she added.

The watchdog also called on suppliers to offer longer warranty periods for new machines, noting almost half of the models only offer one-year warranties despite costing thousands of dollars and their long usage.

All but two models provide warranty renewals, it added.

In a bid to save energy, it suggested the public clean the dust filters of air conditioners at least once every two weeks, and choose models with grade one energy labels.

They should only purchase air conditioners which comply with local specifications to ensure safety.


Edited by Tony Sabine