As part of the ACT MEPS project a recent stakeholder consultation highlighted the need for more ambitious miminum energy performance standards (MEPS), improved enforcement, and greater consumer awareness in the Philippines to unlock energy savings and support national climate goals.
The ACT MEPS (Accelerating Air Conditioning Transformation through Enhanced Energy Performance Standards) project is supporting the Philippines in strengthening minimum energy performance standards (MEPS) and energy labelling systems for air conditioners. Implemented by GIZ and funded by the Clean Cooling Collaborative, the project responds to the rapidly growing demand for air conditioning and the resulting rise in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions from the cooling sector.
Although most air conditioners (ACs) currently available on the Philippine market already comply with existing energy standards, analyses show that more ambitious MEPS are needed to unlock greater energy savings and contribute meaningfully to national climate goals.
As part of the project, the Department of Energy (DOE) and GIZ convened a stakeholder consultation on November 21, 2025, bringing together representatives from the DOE, local and international air conditioner manufacturers, academia, and civil society organizations. During the meeting, the International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC) presented the results of a nationwide market assessment, validation survey, and industry analysis of the Philippine room AC sector. In addition, an international climate and cooling expert from HEAT shared insights on key market barriers and outlined a roadmap to overcome them towards higher MEPS for ACs.
The study highlighted that the Philippine room AC market is still dominated by window-type units, which account for around 63% of total sales. While split-type ACs show significantly higher adoption of energy-efficient inverter technology and are generally preferred by consumers, many households continue to opt for window-type models due to their lower upfront costs, simpler installation, and lower maintenance requirements. Beyond higher purchase prices, low consumer awareness of long-term energy cost savings remains a major barrier to the wider adoption of energy-efficient ACs.
Participants at the consultation agreed on the need to move forward with an implementation roadmap for a stepwise increase in MEPS, accompanied by clear compliance and enforcement mechanisms to ensure effective implementation. Stakeholders also emphasized the importance of increasing consumer awareness through improved product information and greater market transparency.
Overall, the meeting underscored the value of sustained collaboration between government, industry, and civil society. Such cooperation is essential to ensure that strengthened MEPS are realistic, inclusive, and effective in advancing the Philippines’ energy efficiency objectives and long-term climate goals.
