As noted previously, DOE is now collecting data on the CCMS web site that will help manufacturers get their models qualified for the 2023 Consortium for Energy Efficiency (CEE) specifications for central air conditioners and heat pumps. To facilitate the submittal of this data, which is on a voluntary basis, on February 20, 2023 DOE issued the Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Other than Multi-Split Systems, Appendix M1, v5.2 and Multi-Split System Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, Appendix M1, v5.4 templates that contain additional data fields specific to the CEE specifications.

Revised versions of these templates, Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Other than Multi-Split Systems, Appendix M1, v5.3 and Multi-Split System Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, Appendix M1, v5.5, have now been issued. The new templates recognize that the CEE-specific fields of COP and Heating Capacity do not need to be completed for heat pumps if only desiring to qualify models in the South.

Manufacturers seeking CEE Tier 1 (or 2, if applicable) qualification for their models can submit the rating data needed for determining qualification using the CEE-specific fields. The submitted data will be evaluated for qualification under the applicable CEE specifications.

Completion of these additional fields is voluntary and completing or not completing them will have no impact on certification of models to DOE.  However, if a manufacturer desires to have a model included on a qualified product list for any of its basic models under the applicable CEE product specification, the CEE data fields must contain the specified data for those models. To ensure that CEE-qualified models currently in production remain on the CEE qualified product list, subsequent data submittals in CCMS must continue to include the data in the CEE fields.  Leaving those fields blank in subsequent submissions may result in those basic models being dropped from the current CEE qualified product list.

These new templates may be used immediately, but the previous Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Other than Multi-Split Systems, Appendix M1, v5.2 and Multi-Split System Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, Appendix M1, v5.4 templates may continue to be used through May 31, 2023.  Submissions made on these previous versions do not need to be resubmitted until the next annual certification date of July 1, 2023, even if the submitter only desires to qualify heat pump models in the South and they did not complete the COP and Heating Capacity fields.

Additionally, models previously submitted on the Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps Other than Multi-Split Systems, Appendix M1, v5.1 and Multi-Split System Central Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps, Appendix M1, v5.3 templates that both a) included EER2 and b) seek CEE qualification for central air conditioners, do not need to be resubmitted until the next annual certification date of July 1, 2023.

Instructions for completing the templates can be found here.

If you have any questions about completing these new templates, please contact us.

Download these templates from the CCMS Template page.

Posted 4/5/2023.