Which split system brand is best for energy efficiency?
Air Conditioning FAQs
Want to know more about the best brand split system for energy efficiency? Research shows it one of the biggest factors for consumers, aside from purchase price in deciding whether to purchase an air conditioning product or not.
Split system air conditioners are one of the most popular air conditioning systems on the market today. They are known for their energy efficiency, effective cooling, easy installation, visually attractive design and quiet operation.
What is energy efficiency in split system air conditioners?
Split system air conditioners in Australia are required to carry an energy rating label.
For consumer ease air conditioner energy efficiency labels have a star ratings label, a blue coloured label for cooling and a red label for the heating function. Basically the more stars a conditioner has, the more energy efficient it is. Usually, the higher energy rating of the air conditioner, the higher the purchase price is. However the ongoing lower power costs to run it may lead to savings further down the track.
The output number in kilowatts (kW) is also important to notice as it reflects the cooling and heating capacityand the size of the area it could work in. Units which are too small for a space will have to work harder to heat or cool and may be unable to reach and maintain the required temperature. Conditioners which are too large for a space will be less energy efficient and cost more to buy. Generally a small room may need a 2.5kW model, while a larger open-plan area might need an output of 6kW or more.
Comparison of top models of brands and their energy efficiency ratings
We investigated the major brands and their best air conditioners based on their energy efficiency ratings. We recorded the highest energy efficient model for each brand in each output capacity. This is only a general guide only and is based on information from the GEMS Registration Database (found here: https://reg.energyrating.gov.au/comparator/product_types/), as at October 2018. For more up to date information, please check the database above.
2kW split system air conditioner units
For very small split system air conditioner units, only Fujitsu, Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Panasonic had products with this power range. All products were similar in energy efficiency rating and output and input, however the Mitsubishi Electric model came out a little in top with an amazing 7 stars rating for both heating and cooling, with its other models at 6 and 5 star ratings. The other brands had a much lower energy efficiency rating at around 5 stars.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool Output
(kW) |
Cool Input
(kW) |
Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Heat Input (kW) |
| Mitsubishi Electric
|
SRK20ZSXA-W | 7.0 | 2 | 0.31 | 7.0 | 2.70 | 0.47 |
| Mitsubishi Electric
|
SRK20ZMXA-S | 6.0 | 2 | 0.35 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 0.45 |
| Fujitsu
|
ASTG07CMCA/AOTG07CMCA | 5.5 | 2.10 | 0.42 | |||
| Mitsubishi
Electric |
DXK06ZSA-W | 5 | 2 | 0.41 | 5 | 2.7 | 0.56 |
| Daikin
|
FTXM20P/RXM20P | 5 | 2 | 0.41 | |||
| Panasonic
|
CS-Z7RKR/CU-Z7RKR | 5 | 2.05 | 0.41 | 5 | 2.7 | 0.55 |
| Daikin
|
FTXM20P/RXM20P | 5 | 2 | 0.41 | 5 | 2.7 | 0.59 |
2.5 kW split system air conditioners
For small split system air conditioners, Daikin had the top rating model at an impressive 7 star rating, another at a 5.5 stars and multiple other models at a 5 star rating. Again the other companies were comparable with the top energy efficient model at around 5 star rating.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool output (kW) | Cool Input (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Heat Input (kW) |
| Daikin
|
US7 FTXZ25NV1B/RXZ25NV1B | 7 | 2.5 | 0.42 | 7 | 3.5 | 0.62 |
| Daikin
|
FFA25A2/RXS25L3 | 5.5 | 2.5 | 0.56 | 3 | 3.2 | 0.80 |
| Samsung | AR09KSWSWKN | 5 | 2.5 | 0.48 | 5 | 3.2 | 0.61 |
| Mitsubishi Electric
|
MSZ-GL25VGD/MUZ-GL25VGD | 5.5 | 2.5 | 0.49 | 5 | 3.2 | 0.66 |
| Panasonic | CS-Z25TKR/CU-Z25TKR | 5 | 2.5 | 0.5 | 5.5 | 3.2 | 0.62 |
| Fujitsu
|
ASTG09KNCB/AOTG09KMCB | 5.0kW | 2.5 | 0.51 | 5 | 3.2 | 0.65 |
3.5kW split system air conditioners
Again a Daikin model had the highest energy efficiency rating for the small/medium group of air conditioners. Panasonic and Mitsubishi Electric came in close behind with their most energy efficient models having a 4 star rating. Fujitsu was next with its top model having a 3.5 star rating and Samsung’s model came out last with a top of 3 stars.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool out (kW) | Cool Input
(kW) |
Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Heat Input (kW) |
| Daikin
|
FTXZ35N/RXZ35N | 5.5 | 3.5 | 0.68 | 5.5 | 5 | 0.99 |
| Panasonic
|
CS-RZ12RKR/CU-RZ12RKR | 4 | 3.5 | 0.8 | 5 | 3.7 | 0.76 |
| Panasonic
|
CS-Z35TKR/CU-Z35TKR | 4 | 3.5 | 0.86 | 3.5 | 4.3 | 1.06 |
| Mitsubishi Electric
|
SRK35ZSA-W | 4 | 3.5 | 0.82 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 0.81 |
| Samsung
|
AR12KSFSAWKN/AR12KSFSAWKX | 3 | 3.5 | 0.87 | 3.5 | 4.00 | 0.95 |
| Daikin
|
FTXM35P/RKM35P | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.86 | 5 | 3.7 | 0.81 |
| Fujitsu
|
ASTG12KMCB/AOTG12KMCB | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.86 | 4.5 | 3.7 | 0.81 |
| Mitsubishi
|
MSZ-FH35VE-A | 3.5 | 3.5 | 0.86 | 5 | 4.00 | 0.80 |
5 kW split system air conditioners
The medium split system air conditioner range showed Daikin, Panasonic and Mitsubishi Electric all had a top energy efficient model with a 4 star rating. Fujitsu was next with top air conditioner energy rating of 3.5 stars and again Samsung was at the bottom, with 2.5 stars.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool output (kW) | Cool Input (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output
(kW) |
Heat Input (kW) |
| Panasonic | CS-RZ18RKR | 4 | 5 | 1.16 | 4 | 6 | 1.39 |
| Daikin
|
FTXM50P/RXM50P | 4 | 5 | 1.18 | 4 | 6 | 1.42 |
| Mitsubishi
|
MSZ-GL50VGD/MUZ-GL50VGD | 4 | 4.8 | 1.17 | 3.5 | 5.8 | 1.37 |
| Daikin | FFTXM50P | 4 | 5 | 1.18 | 4 | 6 | 1.42 |
| Fujitsu
|
ASTG18KMCA/AOTG18KMCA | 3.5 | 5 | 1.22 | 3.5 | 6.00 | 1.42 |
| Samsung
|
AR18KSFSAWKN/AR18KSFAWKX | 2.5 | 5 | 1.30 | 3 | 6 | 1.54 |
| Samsung
|
AR18KSFTAWQN/AR18KSFTAWQX | 2 | 5 | 1.45 | 2.5 | 6 | 1.71 |
7kW+ split system air conditioners
All the brands, Samsung, Fujitsu, Panasonic, Daikin and Mitsubishi Electric had a large top air conditioner with an energy efficiency rating of 3 stars.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool Output (kW) | Cool Input (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Heat Input (kW) |
| Samsung
|
AC071KN4PEH/AC071KXAPEH | 3 | 7.1 | 1.87 | 3 | 8 | 2.05 |
| Fujitsu
|
ASTG22KMCA | 3 | 6 | 1.59 | 3.5 | 7.2 | 1.77 |
| Panasonic
|
CS-Z21RKR/CU-Z21RKR | 3 | 6 | 1.58 | 3.5 | 7.2 | 1.78 |
| Daikin
|
FTXM60P/RKM60P | 3 | 6 | 1.55 | 3.5 | 7 | 1.72 |
| Daikin
|
FTXM60P/RKM60P | 3 | 6 | 1.55 | |||
| Mitsubishi
Electric |
MSZ-GL60VGD/MUZ-GL60VGD | 3 | 6 | 1.59 | 3.5 | 6.8 | 1.67 |
| Mitsubishi
Electric |
SRK80ZRA | 2.5 | 8 | 2.22 | 2.5 | 9 | 2.4 |
| Fujitsu
|
ASTG24KMCA/AOTG24KMCA | 2.5 | 7.10 | 2.01 | 3 | 8.00 | 2.12 |
| Daikin
|
FTKM71R/RKM71R | 2.5 | 7.10 | 1.93 | |||
| Daikin
|
FTKM71Q/RKM71Q | 2.5 | 7.10 | 1.93 | 3.5 | 8.10 | 1.98 |
| Samsung
|
AR24KSFSAWKN/AR24KSFSAWKX | 2.0 | 7 | 2.06 | 2 | 8.00 | 2.42 |
9kW+ split system air conditioners
In the extra large units group, the Panasonic model had the largest energy efficiency rating of 3.5 stars. Next, was Samsung with 3 stars, Mitsubishi Electric with 2.5 stars and Fujitsu with only 2 stars.
| Brand | Model No | Cool Stars | Cool output (kW) | Cool Input (kW) | Heat Stars | Heat Output (kW) | Heat Input (kW) |
| Panasonic
|
S-100PU2E5A/U-100PE1R5A | 3.5 | 10 | 2.34 | 4.5 | 11.20 | 2.24 |
| Samsung
|
AC100KN4PEH/AC100KXAPEH | 3 | 10 | 2.63 | 3.5 | 11.20 | 2.76 |
| Mitsubishi
Electric |
SRK95ZRA-W /SRC95ZRA-W | 2.5 | 9.5 | 2.56 | 3 | 10.3 | 2.64 |
| Fujitsu
|
AUTA36LCLU/AOTA36CTL | 2.0 | 10.00 | 2.94 | 2.5 | 11.20 | 2.98 |
The above information is a general guide only; however Daikin and Panasonic appear to be the top performing brands, with higher energy efficiency ratings across most of the air conditioning sizes. Next in line would be Fujitsu, then Mitsubishi Electric and at the bottom Samsung.
Obviously when the units become bigger, the less energy efficient they are. However, there are some big differences between the brands and their energy efficiency ratings. It certainly pays to do some research into the energy ratings of the models that you are interested in and also to ensure to choose the correct output size, based on the area that you need to cool.
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