Toward real world performance measurement of air conditioners: A comparison of psychrometric, field, and load-based testing

Space cooling and heating accounts for approximately half of global electricity consumption, making the improvement of energy performance standards and seasonal performance metrics critical for reducing carbon emissions. However, conventional air conditioner testing methods—primarily conducted under static laboratory conditions—fail to fully represent real-world performance. This study conducts a comparative analysis of three testing approaches: including psychrometric testing, field testing and load-based testing, with a focus on their ability to capture real-world performance characteristics. Two representative air conditioners were tested. Psychrometric calorimeter laboratory testing exhibits that the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER)/heating seasonal performance factor (HSPF) were 6.27/3.85 and 5.41/3.55 Wh/Wh, respectively. Field testing exhibited significantly lower energy efficiency than standard tests, with actual cooling and heating energy consumption efficiencies below 3.91 and 2.82 Wh/Wh, respectively. Load-based testing, designed to align with China's climate and building characteristics, demonstrated superior alignment with real-world operation. The dynamic SEER and HSPF were 5.59/3.00 and 5.24/4.39 Wh/Wh. Comprehensive comparison revealed that load-based testing better reflects actual operational performance than conventional psychrometric or field testing, addressing limitations in control strategy adaptation, environmental parameter accuracy, and airflow conditions. These results highlight the potential of load-based testing—particularly when tailored to regional characteristics—as a more reliable method for evaluating air conditioner performance under real-world conditions, with implications for improving global energy efficiency standards.