Air-to-Air systems able to supply both heating and cooling can now be added to the government’s Energy Technology List (ETL) of efficient equipment.
Updated twice each month by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (formerly BEIS), the ETL provides details of independently verified energy-saving products for businesses and the public sector. Since its launch, the scheme has assessed nearly 60,000 products and currently features around 8,000 products across 62 technology categories.
Products appear in either listed or unlisted technology categories. Those in listed have been reviewed by a team of ETL technical specialists as meeting the ETL criteria. In the case of unlisted technologies, where there are multiple variations of a type of product, products are not individually listed and manufacturers need to check their products against the ETL criteria and make a statement of compliance to the purchasers.
“Air-to-Air Heat Pumps, Split, Multi-Split and VRF/VRV” have now been moved from unlisted to listed and, although there are no products showing in the category at the time of writing, that could change as manufacturers become aware of the changes.
The ETL definition says: “Air-to-air heat pumps, split, multi-split and VRF use an electrically operated refrigeration system to transfer heat from air outside a building to the air inside it. They can be used to provide space heating in a wide range of buildings, and some products are also able to provide cooling by reversing the refrigeration flows around the product (these products are also known as reversible ‘air-cooled’ air conditioning units).’’ The full criteria for inclusion can be found here.
There have also been significant updates to the ETL criteria for refrigeration equipment, including display cabinets and professional storage cabinets, such as the introduction of a blanket refrigerant Global Warming Potential (GWP) limit of ≤150 to mirror the current UK F-Gas Regulation. Read more here.
Energy storage products, including battery storage and thermal storage, are scheduled to be added to the ETL soon. Find out more about this key technology for tackling decarbonisation here.
Benefits for customers
Potential customers can search and compare products on the list, and the government suggests embedding the ETL into procurement processes to ensure energy-efficient products are selected. It says this should also reduce the time it takes to select new equipment.
Find out more about how to use the ETL here.
- It is worth noting that an Enhanced Capital Allowance on ETL-listed products is no longer available.
Benefits for manufacturers
The government says inclusion on the ETL provides Independent verification of a product’s energy efficiency performance from a trusted source. This can help provide assurance for potential customers, and using the ETL mark in sales and marketing material shows that the product is rated in the top 25% for efficiency within its class.
Product applications are free and the process is said to usually take between 3-5 weeks. More information is available in the application guidance note.
