On 30 January 2026, the Accelerating Air Conditioning Transformation through Enhanced Energy Performance Standards or ACTMEPSproject organized the event Windows of Opportunities: Consultation on Ambitious Air Conditioner (AC) Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and Ceremonial Closing to conclude the project component in the Philippines in cooperation with its partners from the Department of Energy (DOE) in BGC, Taguig.
GIZThe Philippines remains unique as an air conditioner market in Southeast Asia. Window-type air conditioners still dominate the Philippine market composed of small capacity fixed speed units of less than 2kW. Unlike neighboring member states of the Association of Southeast East Asian Nations (ASEAN) where these types of units are outliers, the Philippines is described as having window-type ACs as the norm available to consumers in general. Given the market dominance of window-type units in terms of availability of models, the mean energy performance ratings are usually low based on empirical evidence through various studies of the ACTMEPS project and risks dragging down the overall performance of the AC market in the Philippines.
The ACTMEPS Philippine component have focused on this aspect of the AC market in the Philippines. Major manufacturers and importers of AC brands were present at the event providing their views, insights and needs to prepare for the second level upgrade of the agreed ASEAN harmonized MEPS level of 6.09 Cooling Seasonal Performance Factor (CSPF). The consultation and workshop elicited the needs of stakeholders in the upgrade of the MEPS in terms of feasibility and readiness and strategies to achieve success.
The event also featured a panel discussion specifically focused on the advantages and limitations of window-type air conditioners. Would an ambitious MEPS naturally phase-out these products from the market? The predominance of the window-type AC units is attributed to building design of mass housing units which usually specifies a slot for window AC according to experts Bienvenido “Benny” Gonzales and Sommai Phon Amnuaisuk. Technological innovations such as variable speed compressors, high efficiency motors, U-shape design and the use of R290 refrigerants are options for design improvements that can raise collective MEPS for this special segment of the Philippine AC market. There truly are windows of opportunities to improve energy efficiency.
ACTMEPS is implemented by GIZ International Service through an agreement with the Clean Cooling Collaborative of the Climateworks Foundation jointly implemented in the Philippines and Vietnam.
