Singapore tightens MEPS for air conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers 
On December 30, 2021, the Energy Conservation (Regulated Products and Registered Suppliers) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2021 (hereinafter “the Amended Regulations”) were promulgated in Singapore. The Amended Regulations strengthen the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) for air conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers prescribed in the First Schedule to the Energy Conservation (Regulated Products and Registered Suppliers) Regulations 2017. The Amended Regulations will come into effect on January 1, 2022.
The original texts of these Regulations can be viewed at:
Energy Conservation (Regulated Products and Registered Suppliers) (Amendment No. 2) Regulations 2021
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL-Supp/S995-2021/Published/20211230?DocDate=20211230
Energy Conservation (Regulated Products and Registered Suppliers) Regulations 2017 (including amendments)
https://sso.agc.gov.sg/SL/ECA2012-S748-2017?DocDate=20171222&ViewType=Pdf&_=20171226195901
MEPS (First Schedule, Section 2)
The Amended Regulations have strengthened the MEPS for air conditioners, refrigerators and clothes dryers. The following tables show the amendments:
- Air conditioners
| Air conditioner type | COP: Coefficient of performance |
| Casement/ Window type air conditioner | COP ≥ 3.78 |
| Split type air conditioner (non-inverter) | COP ≥ 4.04 |
| Split type air conditioner (inverter) | Weighted COP* > 4.04 and COP100% > 3.34 |
*Weighted COP = 0.4 × COP100% + 0.6 × COP50%
- Refrigerators
| Refrigerator type | AEC: Annual Energy Consumption (kWh) |
| Refrigerator without freezer | AEC ≤ (368 + (0.892 × Vadj) × 0.461 |
| Refrigerator with freezer | AEC ≤ (465 + (1.378 × Vadj) × 0.427 |
| Refrigerator with freezer and through‑the‑door ice‑dispenser | AEC ≤ (585 + (1.378 × Vadj) × 0.409 |
- Clothes dryer
| Clothes dryer type | Energy Consumption (EC) per Wash: Maximum energy consumption per wash (kWh) |
| All clothes dryer | EC per Wash ≤ rated capacity × 0.55 |
Energy Efficiency Rating (Schedule 1, Section 3)
The energy efficiency rating is provided with a five-point scale (1-tick to 5-tick). Under the tightened MEPS, the values of MPES of all the three products are equivalent to 2-tick level.
In addition, for split-type air conditioners, standards on standby power consumption have been newly introduced for 3-tick and 4-tick products, whereas for those with two or more indoor units, the existing standby power consumption standard for 5-tick products has been raised.
For refrigerators with freezers, the classification based on the adjusted internal volume was eliminated.
Exemption from application of the stricter MEPS
For the abovementioned three products that fall under any of the following will be exempted from the application of the Amended Regulations until December 31, 2022.
(a) Products that are imported to or manufactured in Singapore before January 1, 2022; or
(b) Products that are imported to or manufactured in Singapore on or after January 1, 2022 and are supplied under a contract executed before January 1, 2022.
