Central Air conditioners, heat pumps and home appliances- Energy Efficiency Amendment 17

Natural Resources Canada (NRCAN) issued a notice to industry on amendment 17 to the Energy Efficiency Regulations. This proposed amendment would update energy efficiency and testing standards for central air conditioners and central heat pumps primarily used in the residential sector to prevent upcoming unnecessary regulatory differences between Canada and the United States.

The Notice of intent informs that NRCAN has initiated an amendment to Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations to increase the stringency of energy efficiency standards and update the testing standardsof major home appliances. The five major home appliances include refrigerators and refrigerator-freezers, freezers, dishwashers, clothes washers and clothes dryer with the intent to align these requirements with the outcomes of the United States Department of Energy (U.S. DOE) rulemakings currently underway and to have these requirements apply in 2024. The Notice was published on April 2nd, 2022 in the Canada Gazette, Part 1.

The changes to be implemented and come into force six months after the date of publication in the Canada Gazette, Part II. The requirements would apply to the prescribed products based on their date of manufacture or import or interprovincial shipment.  Refer to the Guide to Canada’s Energy Efficiency Regulations which will be updated on the coming into force date of the Amendment.

These announcements represent significant milestones for Natural Resources Canada’s continued work under its Forward Regulatory Plan 2022 to 2024, which has been updated on April 1st 2022.

 Have your say/provide your comments on Amendment 17:

  • Pre-publication initiates a 70-day public comment period, which will end on June 11th, 2022.
  • Natural Resources Canada encourages you to submit your comments online using the new commenting feature on the  Canada Gazette, Part I website. You can submit comments at any point throughout the 70-day period, but early submission will allow for early analysis of any potential changes to the proposal to address concerns.
  • Please note that in order to increase the transparency of the regulatory process, all comments submitted during the consultation period, will be posted online after the 70-day period closes.
  • All comments will be taken into consideration in the development of the final Regulations that will be published in the Canada Gazette, Part II.
  • The final publication date will depend on the number and nature of comments received during the comment period.

Natural Resources Canada encourages you to visit its Energy efficiency regulations website for more information on energy-using products that are regulated in Canada.

Please contact equipment-equipement@nrcan-rncan.gc.ca if you have any questions.