The Shift from EER to the Realistic CSPF Standard
Who hasn’t felt the frustration of an air conditioner (AC) that’s not cooling you while causing the electricity bill to skyrocket? To tackle this classic and annoying problem, the Indonesian Government, through the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (ESDM), has implemented the Minimum Energy Performance Standard (SKEM) program and the Energy Saving Label (LTHE).
The key to balancing maximum room comfort with cost-effective operation lies in understanding the secret code on your AC unit: CSPF.
CSPF: A More Realistic Standard for Hot Climates
Previously, AC efficiency was measured using the Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER). However, EER measurements had a fundamental limitation: they only assessed efficiency at a single operating point or at full capacity, under specific and constant temperature conditions (e.g., an outside temperature of 35°C or 46°C). This limited EER’s ability to represent the AC’s actual performance throughout an entire cooling season.
To bridge this gap, especially in hot climates, the Cooling Seasonal Performance Factor (CSPF) was developed as a much more realistic calculation method.
CSPF (Cooling Seasonal Performance Factor) is defined as the total cooling output removed by the equipment from the indoor air while operating in active mode, divided by the total annual energy consumed by the equipment during the same period.
CSPF considers two crucial factors absent in EER:
- Diverse Ambient Climate Data (Weather Bins): CSPF factors in varied ambient climate data throughout the cooling season, not just a single nominal temperature point.
- Partial Capacity Operation: CSPF takes into account how the AC operates at partial capacity. This is vital because many modern ACs feature variable speed compressors, making them significantly more efficient at lower loads.
High CSPF, Low Energy Consumption
The CSPF value provides a far more comprehensive picture of an AC’s real-world performance, particularly in tropical climates. The HIGHER the CSPF number, the more EFFICIENT the AC is in terms of seasonal electricity consumption.
Units with a higher CSPF value directly translate into significant benefits for both the consumer and the environment:
- Energy Savings: Lower overall energy consumption directly results in a lower electricity bill for the user.
- Fairer Comparison: CSPF provides a fairer comparison between equipment based on realistic annual efficiency, helping consumers make better purchasing decisions.
- Environmental Impact: Reduced energy consumption also means a smaller carbon footprint and lower greenhouse gas emissions.
The Vital Role of the Energy Saving Label (LTHE)
The LTHE serves as an essential guide for the public when selecting energy-efficient electronic products. The government designed this standard to help consumers make intelligent decisions.
The LTHE utilizes a star rating system, where the more stars (up to a maximum of 5), the more ENERGY EFFICIENT the AC is. The number of stars is determined by its CSPF value range:
| Star Rating | CSPF Value (W/W) |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5 Stars) | CSPF ≥ 5.00 |
| ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (4 Stars) | 4.20 ≤ CSPF < 5.00 |
| ⭐⭐⭐ (3 Stars) | 3.80 ≤ CSPF < 4.20 |
| ⭐⭐ (2 Stars) | 3.40 ≤ CSPF < 3.80 |
| ⭐ (1 Star) | 3.10 ≤ CSPF < 3.40 |
The mandatory inclusion of the LTHE on energy-utilizing equipment like ACs (which have been required to comply with SKEM and LTHE since 2015) aims to protect and inform users. The LTHE acts as a key instrument for consumer protection, assuring that products in the market meet established energy efficiency standards. According to the Indonesian Consumers Foundation (YLKI), the LTHE is a guarantee from the manufacturer to the consumer, set and supervised by the Government, that the manufactured goods comply with safety standards.
Ensuring Quality in the Marketplace
The issuance of the LTHE significantly boosts consumer trust. Consumers can be confident that an AC unit with 4 or 5 stars is proven to be seasonally efficient based on its high CSPF value.
However, from a sophisticated consumer’s perspective who seeks full protection assurance from the Government, it remains crucial to ensure that the widely circulated products in stores maintain the exact same quality and efficiency as the sample product submitted by the manufacturer for labeling. Consumers need a guarantee that there is no difference in specification or degradation of quality post-certification.
Therefore, regular spot checks (sampling) of LTHE labeled products already in the market, conducted by government or appointed agencies, are essential. To enhance the validity and credibility of these agencies’ performance, they must be supported by highly precise and reliable testing equipment, such as a psychrometric room or a balanced calorimeter.
This step is vital for upholding the integrity of the SKEM and LTHE standards, thereby protecting consumers and boosting confidence in the appointed agencies responsible for market sampling.
