A new air conditioner energy efficiency standard was jointly drafted by the China National Institute of Standardization, Beijing University of Technology, Qingdao Haier, Gree Electric Appliances and Guandong Midea.
The new standard will be officially effective on June 1, 2010. According to the new standard, the minimum allowable value of energy efficiency for air conditioners will increases about 23%.
With the new standard, the currently-in-use second-class energy efficiency standard will be the third-class one, and air conditioners with former third-class energy efficiency will be out of the market.
Trading Markets reported that by then government subsidies will be granted to the first- and second-class products in accordance with the new standard. However, it is still uncertain that whether the subsidy amount will be changed or not.