In June 2026, China’s National Technical Committee on Energy Fundamentals and Management (SAC/TC20) released three mandatory energy efficiency draft standards for public comment, targeting LED flat panel luminaires, industrial boilers, and unitary air conditioners. Meanwhile, the National Technical Committee on Industrial Water Conservation (SAC/TC442) issued a call for experts to form a dedicated working group on water efficiency testing.
The three mandatory energy efficiency draft standards include:
- 20262556-Q-469 Minimum allowable values of energy efficiency and energy efficiency grades of LED flat panel luminaires (call for comment until August 15, 2026)
- 20253196-Q-469 Minimum allowable values of energy efficiency and energy efficiency grades of industrial boilers (call for comment until August 15, 2026)
- 20253199-Q-469 Minimum allowable values of the energy efficiency and energy efficiency grades for unitary air conditioners (call for comment until August 23, 2026)
The above-mentioned standards are revised, with major revisions including:
LED Flat Panel Luminaires: Scope expanded to include dimmable and color-tunable models; efficiency grades tightened and standby power limits added. High color rendering index (High-CRI) correction requirements revised, with new corrections for dimmable/tunable products (additive to high-CRI). Stricter color temperature deviation imposed; luminous flux maintenance testing removed. Test methods updated for standby power. 25-month grace period suggested for existing products.
Industrial Boilers (aligned with the existing regulatory framework TSG 91-2021 Regulation on Energy Conservation and Environmental Protection Technology for Boiler): Small biomass boilers see Grade 3 (entry) raised from 80% to 83% and Grade 2 from 84% to 86%; certain fluidized-bed boilers see their Grade 1 efficiency raised by one percentage point. Scope refined to match the Special Equipment Catalogue. No retrofitting costs or forced phase-outs expected; immediate or short transition recommended.
Unitary Air Conditioners: The proposed revision removes constant-temperature, constant-humidity units from the scope while adding new categories for data centres, communication rooms, and base stations. Energy efficiency grades and minimum allowable values have been revised accordingly, and testing methods have been updated. A key addition is the introduction of seasonal energy consumption efficiency for air-cooled units, along with new implementation requirements to ensure consistent compliance.
Beyond energy, the drive for resource efficiency extends to water conservation, where a separate initiative is now taking shape. SAC/TC442 (Industrial Water Conservation) is recruiting experts from industrial, agricultural, commercial, and domestic sectors—including R&D, manufacturing, and smart water systems—to develop unified testing standards, strengthen product quality supervision, and support the water efficiency labelling program. Applicants should hold at least a mid-level professional title and have relevant expertise. Applications close June 30, 2026.
For EU stakeholders, the revised standards may require exporters to review product compliance, especially for LED luminaires and air conditioners where certain metrics have been adjusted. However, transition periods or grace provisions are available across the standards, and the boiler revision—largely aligning with existing regulations—involves only modest increases that are unlikely to pose significant barriers to mainstream products. Participation in public consultations could help firms stay informed of future regulatory requirements.
Source: https://www.cnis.ac.cn/bydt/bzyjzq/gbyjzq/202606/t20260622_63209.html
https://www.cnis.ac.cn/bydt/bzyjzq/gbyjzq/202606/t20260622_63210.html
https://www.cnis.ac.cn/bydt/bzyjzq/gbyjzq/202606/t20260629_63240.html
