Product Testing & Rating Procedures

Standardized, industry accepted test procedures for characterizing the energy performance of building materials and equipment are necessary for developing building codes, efficiency standards, and other policies that promote adoption of high performance products. The closer a testing procedure is designed to approximate field performance, the more successful the policy. On the other hand, highly complex procedures will not gain acceptance and will be difficult to implement. Therefore, developing and refining these methodologies is a continual process and a critical one to ensure sound policy and to minimize market barriers.

Activities:

• Work to Revise Testing Procedures for Residential and Commercial Equipment
  ACEEE takes advantage of every opportunity to examine accepted rating methods with an eye toward how well they relate to field experience. Areas of particular interest include residential central air conditioners (improving SEER), furnace electricity use, and water heater efficiency, particularly for tankless types. We emphasize collaborative work with trade associations and other organizations who represent manufacturers and and lead the way in standards for testing and rating equipment performance.
  

ACEEE Reports

• Testing Procedures

Additional Resources and Links

• American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers, Inc.(ASHRAE)
  Develops test methods for many commercial and residential heating, cooling and refrigeration products
  
• Canadian Standards Association (CSA)
  Develops standards for some products for which US standards and test methods do not exist.
  
• Air-Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute (ARI)
  A manufacturer's trade association
  
• Gas Appliance Manufacturer's Association (GAMA)
  A manufacturers' trade association of producers of water heaters, furnaces, and boilers
  
• Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers (AHAM)
  A trade association of manufacturers of consumer products including refrigerators, dishwashers and clothes washers, and room air airconditioners

For more information contact:
Harvey Sachs, Program Director
Jennifer Thorne Amann, Senior Associate
Amanda Korane, Research Staff

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