Korea strengthens energy-saving standards for washing machines, chillers and heaters, monitors, etc.

On April 27, 2022, the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy of South Korea published an amendment to the Operational Regulation on Equipment for Efficiency Management (Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy Notification No.2022-64) to upwardly revise the criteria for energy efficiency rating (hereinafter referred to as the criteria for rating) for electric washing machines, electric chillers and heaters, and kimchi refrigerators. The amendment also establishes and strengthens the minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) for monitors that have been subject to the Regulation on Promoting the e-Standby Program. While maintaining the standards for power consumption in power-on mode, standby mode (sleep mode), and power-off mode, the minimum energy performance standards will be strengthened and products that do not meet the standards will be prohibited from distribution (In other words, monitors will be transferred from the subject of the Regulation on Promoting the e-Standby Program to the subject of the Operational Regulation on Equipment for Efficiency Management). The amendment will take effect on November 1, 2022, for electric washing machines and electric chillers and heaters, and on May 1, 2023, for kimchi refrigerators and monitors.

For electric chillers and heaters and washing machines, mid- to long- term criteria for energy efficiency targeted after three and six years are also established and announced for each product category. The plan is to revise the energy efficiency upward by 3-20% after three years, and again by about 3% after six years.