Revised Minimum Energy Performance Standards and Alternative Strategies for Small Electric Storage Water Heaters

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Summary

Electric water heating accounts for about 28% of national household electricity use and about 2% of commercial sector electricity use in Australia. Electric water heating is the largest single greenhouse emission source in the residential sector. Energy consumption made up of standing heat losses and in use energy consumption (hot water delivered) - MEPS for electric units focuses on standing heat losses only. A range of options were examined including 3 MEPS options. The main conclusion in the RIS were:

More stringent MEPS be introduced at a 30% reduction current losses
Expand MEPS to cover units of less than 25 litres
MEPS to start 1 Oct 2005, minimum 4 years
Use joint standard AS/NZS method under development
Allow sales weighted option for 50 litres models only - this provides flexible compliance but would require annual reporting
NZ MEPS level = high efficiency label
Any models which comply only with 1999 MEPS 50L must carry a low efficiency label

This report was released in August 2003.

This page last modified 23 February 2006