The Ministry of Municipality and Environment yesterday marked the arrival of the first energy-saving air conditioner in Qatar, ahead of the July 1 deadline for a ban on conventional ACs in the local market.

“Today we are celebrating the entry of the first energy-saving air conditioner into the country imported by Al Taadhod company (specialising in ACs). Soon more such units will enter the market which will eventually replace the conventional air conditioners. We have started to enter the age of energy-(efficiency),” said Dr Mohammed Saif Al Kuwari, assistant undersecretary for laboratories and standardization at the ministry.

Consumers may have to a pay a little more for the energy-saving ACs but the additional cost will not be more than 10 percent, he added.

He said that from January 1 next year, the Authority will organize the import of electrical heaters and refrigerators and washing machines with new standards and specifications.

He said the arrival of the new Air conditioners compliments the great strides achieved by the General Authority for Specification and Standardisation at the Ministry since 2010 until now.

The Authority will soon issue the green building code very soon.

The decision to phase out conventional air conditioners was announced on January 1, 2014 and traders and importers were given more than two years to comply with the new specifications, said Al Kuwari.

“ The decision will help save millions of dollars (by reducing consumption of electricity), which we can invest in other projects,” he added. (Source)

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