Energy Efficiency in the Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Sector
Energy efficiency: MEPS and eco-design
What SEER and SCOP measure, the minimum requirements for new equipment, and why efficiency and refrigerant choice go together.
The introduction to this portal states that Minimum Energy Performance Standards and eco-design requirements are particularly important. Here are the figures behind that.
What the ratings measure
The efficiency of a cooling appliance is expressed by four values. The difference between them is whether they measure at a single point or across a whole season.
| Rating | Measures | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| EER | cooling at a single point | fixed: 35 °C outdoor, 26 °C indoor |
| SEER | cooling across a season | variable, 15 to 37 °C |
| COP | heating at a single point | fixed |
| SCOP | heating across a heating season | variable, by climate zone |
For purchasing decisions SEER matters more than EER. EER shows how the unit performs on one extreme day; SEER shows how much electricity it will use across the whole summer. Good systems have a COP between 3.0 and 5.0, and modern SCOP values range from about 3.5 to 4.5.
Minimum requirements for new equipment
The EU eco-design regulations — Regulation (EU) 2016/2281 for cooling appliances and Regulation (EU) No 206/2012 for air conditioners — set a threshold below which equipment may not be placed on the market.
| Equipment type | SEER min. | SCOP min. | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Split air conditioners up to 12 kW | 4.60 | 3.80 | an inverter compressor becomes effectively mandatory |
| Multi-split systems | 4.10 | 3.40 | lower requirements due to complexity |
| Chillers and heat pumps up to 400 kW | ≥ 5.0 | ≥ 3.0 | depends on type, air or water source |
| Commercial refrigerators | — | — | energy index EEI ≤ 80, per EN 16825 |
| Heat pumps up to 12 kW | — | 3.80 | for the average climate zone |
Verify these values before publication. The table in the Manual lists SEER 6.1 and energy class A+ for split units up to 12 kW as the minimum. That is the threshold for the A+ label, not the legal eco-design minimum — the two are often confused. The values above follow the legal threshold; confirmation is needed from the technical expert on which values currently apply in North Macedonia.
What this means in practice
- When purchasing — ask for the SEER figure in the technical specification, not just the energy class. Classes shift with revisions of the regulation; the number does not.
- In public procurement — a minimum SEER can be set as a tender condition, excluding inefficient equipment at the first stage.
- For importers — equipment below the threshold will not be allowed on the market. That is a predictable date, not a surprise.
- The difference in the bill — studies show that low-efficiency units consume around 25.7% more electricity per hour than comparable efficient ones.
Before you invest: an energy audit
Before implementing measures, an energy audit is recommended. It establishes:
- A consumption baseline — the reference against which every later improvement is measured
- Monitoring indicators — used to track the return on investment
The audit may be carried out by an external body, or by the organisation itself through an energy management system under ISO 50001.
Why this is part of the project
Refrigerant replacement and energy efficiency are two sides of the same issue. A low-GWP refrigerant in an inefficient unit still consumes a great deal of electricity, and that electricity carries its own emissions. That is why the project links the two: which refrigerant is inside and how much the unit consumes.
Measures by sector
The Manual sets out concrete measures for the sectors that consume the most. A few that are often overlooked:
- Heat recovery. The heat a refrigeration unit rejects can warm process water above 40 °C. In food processing it goes to heating brine, dairy processing, boiler feedwater pre-heating and CIP cleaning of pipes and vessels.
- Variable frequency drives. The compressor runs only at the capacity needed rather than at full load, bringing substantial savings where cooling demand fluctuates.
- Plastic strip curtains. The cheapest measure on the list — on a door in constant use it can cut operating costs by up to 30%.
- Defrost on demand. The system defrosts when needed rather than on a timer. This can reduce consumption by up to 9%.
- Cogeneration and trigeneration. One fuel produces electricity, heat and cold at once. In hospitals it has been shown to cut consumption by 8% to 25%.
- Geothermal cooling. Uses the stable temperature below ground. Requires careful assessment of whether the site is suitable at all.
The full list by sector — public buildings, hospitals, hotels, food industry — is in the Manual, chapter 5.