News

Construction Industry Strategy Group- Media Release

Click the link to read the release " Accountability in the Construction Industry"

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MEPS Update for Computer Rooms and Close Control
Air Conditioners  

Please be advised that EECA plan to introduce minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for computer room or close control air conditioners no earlier than December 2009.

From the date of implementation, only computer room air conditioners that are tested and comply with the standards cited in the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002 may be offered for sale.

However, computer room air conditioners that were imported into or manufactured in New Zealand prior to the MEPS coming into force may be sold.

Computer room air conditioners used an estimated 138 GWh/yr in electricity in 2006, and energy consumption is expected to increase.  The MEPS is estimated to reduce energy costs to business a total of $24.8 million by 2020.

The MEPS for computer room air conditioners takes into consideration public comment received following the release of a regulatory impact statement in 2008.

The MEPS level for all units is an energy effciency ratio (EER) of 2.62.  The MEPS covers both water and air cooled units, and are based on testing the indoor unit alone.

There are steps you must take to meet the requirements of the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations 2002.

Check out:
· Regulatory steps - manufacturers/importers

The relevant Standard cited in the Energy Efficiency (Energy Using Products) Regulations states the minimum energy performance quirements for close control air conditioners. Standards are available from the Standards New Zealand.

The energy performance standards for computer room air conditioners are:
· AS/NZS 4965.1 includes the scope and test method.
· AS/NZS 4965.2 covers MEPS requirements.

The scope of the Standard covers factory-made close control air conditioners utilising a single or multiple refrigerated direct expansion (DX) system, designed to control and monitor temperature and humidity, and may include supplementary conditioning equipment. 

Close control air conditioners are used for applications where temperature and humidity are required to be monitored and maintained within narrow limits - for example, computer rooms, data processing units, telecommunication facilities and other industrial process areas.

Exemptions

Close-coupled row-based cooling units are exempt from the MEPS.  These are cooling devices designed to be mounted in the row containing the rack enclosures, and is placed in such a way that it takes air from a hot isle, cools it and discharges it to a cold aisle.  To qualify for an exemption the particular unit must be designed for, and the manufacturer shall have published operating data up to a minimum of 35C DB entering air temperature.

 

Notice to all Product Principles

Applications to participate in the Pilot scheme have now closed and the final list of Product Principles and their eligible products will be on EECA's ENERGYWISE website by the middle of next week. EECA is pleased with the scheme's progress because of the participation level and numbers of products have exceeded expectations, and notes that early market uptake signs are encouraging.

read more . . .

Phase 2 Notice PDF

EECA Approval Label Guidelines for PPs PDF


Massey University Research
Construction Contracts Act (CCA) 2002 - Is it working?

Thank you for agreeing to participate in this research. Please read this information sheet and then answer the 20 questions that follow. This survey should take 5-10 minutes of your time and your responses will be anonymous. Please click on the link below to access the survey.

http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=ulDlfF2hy_2btkY4_2fvEK5H_2fg_3d_3d

The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of the Construction Contracts Act since its introduction in April 2003. This research specifically focuses on the impact of the CCA on facilitating timely payments, dispute resolution, recovery of payments and improving cash flow within the New Zealand construction industry.

Widespread participation across the industry is important. This survey is open to participants in the construction industry. Please feel free to forward the Web address of this survey to your colleagues and mates until the close of the survey on 3 May 2009. The final results and findings from this research will be published in a research report to be submitted in July 2009. If, after completing the survey, you want to receive an executive summary of this report, please send a request to Victoria Rees-Webbe at thevinnies@xtra.co.nz

Finally, we are obligated to tell you that.... this project has been evaluated by peer review and judged to be low risk. Consequently, it has not been reviewed by one of Massey University's Human Ethics Committees. The researcher(s) named below are responsible for the ethical conduct of this research. If you have any concerns about the conduct of this research that you wish to raise with someone other
than the researcher(s), please contact Professor Sylvia Rumball,
Assistant to the Vice-Chancellor (Ethics & Equity), telephone 06 350 5249,
e-mail humanethics@massey.ac.nz

Thank you again for your time and support of this research.

Victoria Rees-Webbe
MBA Student , Massey University
thevinnies@xtra.co.nz
+64 021 443 042                                                                               

Dennis Viehland
Associate Professor, Massey University
d.viehland@massey.ac.nz
+64 9-414-0800 extn 9501

Changes Proposed for Heat Pumps and Air Conditioners

There are changes proposed to the Standard for heat pumps and air conditioners AS/NZS 3823.2.  Most of these proposed changes have already been outlined in a regulatory impact statement released in September 2008.  However, some of the proposed changes are delayed or additional and have not yet been consulted on.  The draft standard will be available for public comment on www.saiglobal.com  as a part of the Standards consultation process. 

EECA plans to call the new Standard into regulation, and we are keen to ensure that the New Zealand industry are aware of the following changes to the current standard:

  • More stringent Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) levels for selected products (under 10 kW output) for cooling mode.
  • Introducing MEPS levels for heating mode for the first time for all products with a heating function - this will be the same COP for heating as the EER is for cooling.
  • A new energy labeling algorithm and label design.  There will be a 2 part "side-by-side" energy rating label - a cooling-only, heating only or combined cooling/heating label (as below).  There is also an option for 7 to 10 star labels for heating or cooling.
  • From October 2009 all new registrations for heat pumps manufactured or imported to NZ will need to be registered to, and meet the requirements of the revised MEPS and Labelling Standard (AS/NZS 3823.2: 2009).  The new labels must be used.
  • From 1 April 2010 these Regulations will apply to all heat pumps manufactured or imported to NZ or Australia.  At this time, if you wish to continue importing models registered to the old MEPS, you will need to re register them to the new MEPS and use new labels.
  • However old stock manufactured or imported before 1 April 2010, which was registered to the older standard, may be sold and may display the old label.
  • From 1 April 2011, MEPS levels will be based on annual EER/COP (this includes an element of stand-by energy consumption).
  • Demand response capability will be required on all models from April 2012.
  • There will be a Minimum power factor requirement of 0.85 from April 2011.

Please note there is also a proposal to introduce new MEPS levels in 2012, which are 10% more stringent than 2011 levels. If you wish to comment on this or any other change, please email Alan.Ly@standards.org.au by 18th May 2009.