Developing next generation Room Air Conditioner testing protocols

Developing next generation Room Air Conditioner testing protocols

More than 70 percent of residential peak electrical demand on a distribution system can be attributed to air conditioning equipment. Peak electrical demand stresses distribution systems around the world, and often disproportionately impacts developing economies because their transmission grids may be ill-equipped to handle high-demand occurrences. Building and maintaining the infrastructure to accommodate increasing peak demand requires significant investments, which are only necessary for brief periods each year. 

The main objective of the project supported by a grant from the ClimateWorks Foundation to Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) is to improve the testing standards for super-efficient, climate-friendly, and affordable cooling technologies. The key features of the project are:

• To leverage the testing data, the full test results, preliminary analysis, and energy simulation models collected and developed throughout the Prize process to develop a hypothesis as to the minimum number of testing protocol adjustments that can materially close the gap in relation to the real-world conditions.
• To build a supporting coalition including targeted standard-setting bodies to seek input and alignment on the hypothesis.
• To test and pilot the designs with suggested modifications to ISO testing and ISEER metrics.
• To publish results and recommendations through reports and papers