According to the European Directive 2009/125/EU and in order to achieve environmental goals “20/20/20” until the year 2020, which means -20% of energy use, -20% in CO2 emissions and +20% of renewable energy use, all electric appliances up to 12kW (42.000 Btu/h) are subjected to the new regulations, as far as their energy footprint is concerned. Air conditioners are products which interact directly with the environment, due to the energy they consume during the operation or standby mode, the energy and raw materials required in the production process, as well as during the transportation to their final destination. The European Union decided to intensify the controls on the imported products, always aiming to the environment protection and the best possible consumers’ information on the products available in the market. Moreover, the EU made mandatory the rating of the air conditioners, in the basis of a new set of rules evaluating the energy efficiency. The Seasonal Energy Efficiency Ratio (SEER) and Seasonal Coefficient of Performance (SCOP) are considered to provide the most accurate data for the unit’s performance throughout the year, unlike the previous way of rating, which was related to the instantaneous performance.
* The heating mode is divided into three climate zones. SCOP energy class refers to the middle climate zone.