CSE report on 5-star ACs, refrigerators confusing: RAMA

Criticising CSE's report that 5-star rated ACs and refrigerators become 'energy inefficient' when temperature soars over 40 degrees Celsius, industry body RAMA said this will create confusion in the minds of the customers since it furnishes skewed information.
According to a latest report released by the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), 5-star air conditioners become energy inefficient, worse than 1-star rates as they consume 28 per cent more power when temperature soars above 40 degrees.
This is in contrast to the claims by Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) which says a 5-star AC is supposed to save 22 per cent energy as compared to its 1-star counterpart.

Refrigeration and Airconditioning Manufacturers' Association (RAMA), which along with BEE, launched the first voluntary labelling programme in 2008 that became mandatory from 2010, said the report by CSE will create confusion in the minds of the consumers who believe such ratings signify lesser power consumption by the product.
"It is known that the power consumption of ACs will increase with rise in the ambient temperature, and will decrease with a drop in the ambient temperature. So, for a given increase in temperature, the power consumption of a 5-star air conditioner will be lower than that of a one-star machine due to the technological efficiency of the machine with a higher star rating," it said.

RAMA said with the increase in demand for various electrically-operated appliances and the related surge in electrical energy requirements, developed countries regulate and classify these products in bands for energy-efficiency.
"This empowers the customer to take an informed choice with respect to the requisite appliance, based on need as well as affordability. Over recent years, this practice has been adopted increasingly by several developing countries including India," RAMA said.