The campaign is being carried out to ensure energy conservation and power efficiency through the use of the rating system for ACs sold in Qatar, the corporation has said in a statement.
Kahramaa, in co-operation with the Ministry of Municipality and Environment, Ministry of Economy and Commerce and the Qatar General Organisation for Standards and Metrology (QS), had announced a ban on the import and sale of all conventional ACs from July 1.
As part of its community outreach programme, Kahramaa and Majid Al Futtaim Group’s Carrefour Qatar (in line with its corporate social responsibility strategy) have joined hands to spread information on the new system among people living in the country, according to the statement.
Carrefour Qatar, as part of the campaign, has extended its electrical appliances areas to display a wide range of ACs with highly efficient energy performance systems.
The labelling system demonstrates energy efficiency and conservation parameters.
Three stars, equal to an energy efficiency ratio (EER) of 8.5 for window ACs, is the minimum energy efficiency rating in Qatar. For split ACs, it is four stars, equal to an EER of 9.5.
The more stars a product has, the more efficient it is in terms of efficiency and conservation. The system helps Qatar in protecting the environment by reducing harmful emissions.
The labelling is being done to help customers determine the ideal ACs in terms of energy efficiency and reduction of carbon emissions.
Under the new regulations, the import, sale and distribution of energy-saving air-conditioners (window and split) will be allowed if the unit is in accordance with the approved Qatari Standard QS 2663 and Gulf Technical Regulation No BD-142004-01.
"The energy efficiency rate for ACs (window and split) shall not be less than 8.5 and 9.5 BTU/hr, respectively (EER = 8.5 BTU/hr and 9.5 BTU/hr), according to testing conditions (T3 & T1) for all conditioning units (three stars at least)," Kahramaa explained.
Each maker, or the one a manufacturer authorises, will register the AC prototype using a QS-approved form and obtain a conformity certificate attesting to the ACs' number of stars, at least a month prior to import.
The import and sale of units will be subjected to the submission of an original test report from an ISO 17025-certified laboratory, an approved certificate issued in accordance with the IECEE CB Scheme or a certificate of conformity from an internationally recognised body proving that the AC complies with the requirements contained in the approved QS 2663 and Gulf Technical Regulation No BD-142004-01.
Under the regulations, window and split ACs will have energy efficiency cards/labels approved by QS, indicating the number of stars, affixed to their front part or attached by the manufacturer.