Ecodesign applies to manufacturers to ensure that their products placed onto the market comply with the directive. However, it also affects you as the end user, who is purchasing the equipment. You also need to ensure that you are carrying out due diligence to ensure compliance with these regulatory requirements to keep your running costs as low as possible.

By performing the five checks below, you can ensure that you are purchasing an Ecodesign compliant chiller:

1. CE marking alone does not constitute Ecodesign compliance?

CE marking is a certification mark that indicates conformity with health, safety, and environmental protection standards for products sold within the European Economic Area. Although it does encompass Ecodesign compliance, further documentation should be legally made available to you to show this compliance. See check point 2. 

2. Request the mandatory technical data statements

It is a legal requirement that the chiller manufacturer provide you with supporting technical information to show their compliance. This includes availability of published energy performance data in their instruction manuals and free access websites.

3. Ensure the new SSCEE and SEPR metrics are quoted as opposed to the longstanding standard ESEER for chillers

The Ecodesign Directive has brought in two new standardised performance metrics:  Seasonal Space Cooling Energy Efficiency (SSCEE) for comfort cooling applications, and Seasonal Energy Performance Ratio (SEPR) for process cooling.

These metrics are very similar to the previous ESEER but instead of the EERs at each ambient temperature being weighted via coefficients, they are weighted in hours spent at a particular ambient temperature over the course of a year (this is based upon a reference table for the European cooling season for comfort chillers). The standby power consumption for the chiller is also taken into account for comfort chillers.

Through the use of these standardised metrics, users are able to make better and more informed decisions when comparing products from different manufacturers.

4. Check that the correct product compliance metrics are applicable to a particular application

As discussed in check point 3, there are different compliance metrics to meet depending on the particular application for the chiller.

For example, a chiller designed for a medium temperature process application may not be operating as efficiently in a comfort application, compared to a chiller designed specifically for comfort cooling.

 You can determine the metric details that must be attained in order to be Ecodesign compliant using the flowchart at the bottom of the linked page to guide you to the applicable process: https://airedale.com/web/Ecodesign-Directive/Ecodesign-Responsibilities-Ecodesign-Directive-HVAC.htm

As you can see, when an application has dual purpose the comfort metric, SSCEE, takes priority.

5. Incorporate Ecodesign metrics into your specifications

For clarity it is always wise to consider incorporating Ecodesign metrics into your specifications. By clarifying the purpose and operating temperature of your units and corresponding metrics you can be confident that the relevant checks will be carried out and quality will be ensured.

If you follow these five checks, you or your end user will reap the benefits of an Ecodesign compliant chiller, including a significant reduction in running costs and also ensuring your or their site is operating as efficiently and sustainably as possible for years to come.