EAC adopts Minimum Energy Performance Standards for Cooling Appliances

The East African Community has adopted regional Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for refrigerating appliances and air conditioners, a crucial step towards reducing energy consumption by promoting energy-efficient appliances and strengthening the regulation of the energy efficiency market. The EAC Principles and Procedures for the Development and Harmonisation of EAC Standards guided this process. National consultations and regional harmonisation meetings were conducted in EAC Partner States under the guidance of the East African Standards Committee (EASC). The EAC energy labels were integrated into the regional MEPS for refrigerating appliances and air conditioners to help energy users assess the energy efficiency of products in the market.

The EAC region is still a dumping ground for inefficient products due to limited compliance with standards. Following their adoption, the MEPS for cooling appliances will be accompanied by a moratorium period to allow EAC partner states to transition to energy-efficient refrigerating appliances and air conditioners. Additionally, the ongoing development of the EAC Energy Efficiency Policy, Regional Compliance Framework, and Energy Performance Label will play a critical role in supporting the enforcement of the MEPS for both lighting and cooling appliances. This development aligns with the East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency (EACREEE)’s efforts to foster an enabling environment for renewable energy and energy efficiency markets and investments, contributing to improved energy security and climate change mitigation

The development of these MEPS was supported by the United Nations Environment Programme-United for Efficiency (UNEP-U4E), United Nations Industrial Development Organisation (UNIDO), and East African Centre of Excellence for Renewable Energy and Efficiency.

This milestone builds on the adoption of regional minimum energy performance standards for lighting in July 2022, an activity of the Energy Efficiency Lighting and Appliances (EELA) Project in East and Southern Africa. The project was implemented by UNIDO and executed in the East African Community by EACREEE and Southern African Development Community (SADC) by SADC Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency, with funding from the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency(Sida).