Recently, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) introduced changes to the Energy Guide labels for portable air conditioners. The new change has implications for both customers and manufacturers. Keep reading to learn more about these changes and how you can use them to find the best portable AC for you. Use the below links for quick access to the sections of this post.
- What's New with the Energy Guide Labels?
- Why Did it Change?
- What Changed?
- What Does It Mean for Sylvane Customers?
- Additional Questions
What’s New with the Energy Guide Labels?
The new Energy Guide labels introduced by the FTC for portable air conditioners are intended to more accurately reflect the energy efficiency of each model. There are two changes this new labeling provides.
- Accuracy: Provides consumer clear and accurate information about the energy efficiency of portable air conditioners.
- Required Changes: Retailers and manufacturers are required to update their marketing materials with accurate information to help guide customers.
Why Did It Change?
Changes to Energy Guide labels required by the FTC are a result of new energy testing guidelines for both single-hose and dual-hose portable air conditioners implemented by the Department of Energy. The new energy testing guidelines were first proposed in February 2015 and officially went into effect in June 2016. When the new testing protocol was implemented, an unintended consequence was that prior inconsistent testing possibly caused Energy Guide labels that misled customers comparing portable ACs to other air conditioner types.
What Changed?
The modified cooling and heating testing requirements revised a previous rating system and introduced a new rating.
- Combined Energy Efficiency Ratio (CEER): Takes into account the energy used while the air conditioner is running, as well as the standby power used when the unit is not running but is powered on.
- Seasonally Adjusted Cooling Capacity (SACC): Is a rating in BTU/hour that represents the weighted average performance of a unit in a number of test conditions, some of which may be more extreme than the average use case.
What Does It Mean for Sylvane Customers?
The FTC concluded that the new testing process portrayed Portable ACs to be more efficient than they actually are. To assist customers with their buying process, we’ve made a few changes to how we provide you with information on our product pages.
- Recommended Room Size: To take the confusion out of trying to figure out how many BTUs you need for an individual room, all of our products will clearly indicate the maximum square footage a particular model is best suited for.
- DOE SACC Ratings: In both our product page content and specifications you’ll see the new DOE SACC rating. This is to comply with federal guidelines. It’s important to remember that this new rating is based on revised testing guidelines, so the indicated maximum BTUs will be lower than the previous. This doesn’t mean any changes have occurred to the air conditioner.
- ASHRAE Rating: For the immediate future, the previously indicated BTU ratings will remain included on our pages and while this transition occurs.
- Manufacturer Packaging: During this transitional year many manufacturers will continue to list the previous and the new DOE ratings on their packaging.
Still Have Questions
If you have questions about this new rating system, let us know through the Sylvane Facebook and Twitter pages, or call our knowledgeable staff at 1-800-934-9194 for support.
