Introduction

In the coming years the stock of Air Conditioning (A/C) equipment in use in Europe will partly become obsolete. Most systems will be renovated for the first time (after 10-15 years of operation) and an opportunity exists to introduce higher efficiency systems. Out of the 1.974 Mm2 of air conditioned building area in use in 2010 in Europe, 800 Mm2 will date by more than 15 years and will need urgent renewal. A SAVE Study (EECCAC) had the result, that there is energy saving of about 35 %. That means: A/C - Systems are able to operate with about 35 % less energy.

This market will be influenced by the DIRECTIVE 2002/91/EC OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 16 December 2002 on the energy performance of buildings (EPBD). According this new directive all over Europe, the building legislation will be changed to create higher energy efficiency within the European buildings.

Article 9 of this Directive takes care about the Inspection of air-conditioning systems:

Article 9

Inspection of air-conditioning systems

With regard to reducing energy consumption and limiting carbon dioxide emissions, Member States shall lay down the necessary measures to establish a regular inspection of air conditioning systems of an effective rated output of more than 12 kW.

This inspection shall include an assessment of the air-conditioning efficiency and the sizing compared to the cooling requirements of the building. Appropriate advice shall be provided to the users on possible improvement or replacement of the air-conditioning system and on alternative solutions.

The INSPECTION should not only include assessment of the air-conditioning efficiency and the best sizing but should also include some advice to make some improvements. Here AUDITAC wants to start. AUDITAC is the short name for "Field Benchmarking and Market Development for Audit Methods in Air Conditioning". The name is the program.

This two-year project, largely funded by the European Commission through its "Intelligent Energy - Europe" programme has started in January 2005. It has participants from France (the project coordinators), UK, Slovenia, Austria, Belgium, Portugal and Italy. Eurovent is also a participant.

AUDITAC is not a project about the implementation of Article 9 of the EPBD. It is much more a project about the questions what comes after the legislation on the national level.

Within the focus of AUDITAC is to support the European A/C market to reach higher efficiency.

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