Expanding modern cooling services with energy efficiency (SDG7.3)

This report by Sustainable Energy for All analyzes how energy efficiency, specifically through Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS), can expand access to cooling services for low-income households in high-impact countries by making appliances compatible with lower tiers of electricity supply.

• Energy efficiency is a critical driver for expanding cooling services because more efficient appliances can operate on lower tiers of electricity access. While basic access (SDG7.1) is often insufficient for cooling, the Modern Energy Minimum framework suggests a threshold of approximately 1000 kWh annual consumption per capita, with at least 300 kWh at the household level, is necessary for basic needs including cooling.
• In high-impact countries, the implementation of Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) could make 1.07 billion appliances compatible with the electricity services of households. This represents an increase of over 40 percent for refrigerator-freezers and 16 percent for air conditioners (AC) compared to business-as-usual (BAU) efficiency scenarios.
• For refrigerator-freezers in high-impact countries, BAU efficiency would make 340 million units compatible with the electricity consumption of 51 percent of households at medium and low risk. Introducing MEPS would increase this to 470 million units, making them viable for 71 percent of these households and extending viability to nearly 75 million additional poor households across 40 countries.
• Air conditioning (AC) remains more restricted due to higher energy intensity. By 2030, BAU efficiency would make 93 million AC units viable for 14 percent of households at low and medium risk in high-impact countries; MEPS could increase this by 15 million units. However, the report notes that MEPS may need to be paired with subsidies, rebates, or credit to overcome prohibitive costs for low-income populations.
• Fans are already widely used and compatible with the electricity supply of nearly all households at medium and low risk in high-impact countries, with 490 million units potentially viable by 2030. Because fans often constitute the majority of household electricity use, stringent MEPS are necessary to reduce energy demand and free up disposable income and electricity for other uses.

APA

Sustainable Energy for All (n.d.). Expanding modern cooling services with energy efficiency (SDG7.3). https://www.seforall.org/data-stories/chilling-prospects-2022-special/expanding-modern-cooling-services

Chicago

Sustainable Energy for All. Expanding modern cooling services with energy efficiency (SDG7.3). n.d. https://www.seforall.org/data-stories/chilling-prospects-2022-special/expanding-modern-cooling-services.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Sustainable Energy for All |title=Expanding modern cooling services with energy efficiency (SDG7.3) |url=https://www.seforall.org/data-stories/chilling-prospects-2022-special/expanding-modern-cooling-services |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sustainableenergyforallndexpanding, author = {{Sustainable Energy for All}}, title = {{Expanding modern cooling services with energy efficiency (SDG7.3)}}, institution = {Sustainable Energy for All}, url = {https://www.seforall.org/data-stories/chilling-prospects-2022-special/expanding-modern-cooling-services}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }