From April 2027, Japan will apply a new energy-saving standard for air conditioners—and some people are already calling it the “Air Conditioner 2027 Problem.” The concern? That cheaper models might disappear from store shelves.
According to Japan’s Agency for Natural Resources and Energy, the new rules do not ban the production or shipment of products that fail to meet the standard. Still, many consumers and retailers are wondering: will manufacturers continue making low-priced units? ITmedia asked Daikin Industries about its current stance.
What Is the “Air Conditioner 2027 Problem”?
The new energy-saving standard for fiscal year 2027 is a bold アップデート (appudēto, update). Compared to the previous standard, it requires cooling energy efficiency to improve by 13.8% to 34.7%, depending on the model.
For example, for widely used units designed for rooms of 6 to 8 tatami mats (with cooling capacity of 2.2kW to 3.2kW), the new benchmark is APF 6.6—a 13.8% improvement.
What Is APF?
APF（エーピーエフ） (ēpīefu) stands for Annual Performance Factor. In Japanese, it’s called 通年エネルギー消費効率 (tsūnen enerugī shōhi kōritsu), meaning “annual energy consumption efficiency.”
It measures how much cooling performance an air conditioner provides per 1kW of electricity under set conditions. The higher the number, the better the 省エネ (shōene, energy-saving) performance.
How Much Money Could You Save?
On its official Webページ (webu pēji, web page), the Agency explains that a 6-tatami model meeting the 2027 standard could reduce annual electricity costs by about 2,760 yen compared to current standards.
Considering that the average air conditioner in Japan is used for about 14 years, that adds up to around 40,000 yen in total savings.
Daikin also commented:
Because raising energy-saving standards leads to reduced electricity consumption, lower electricity bills can also be expected. For this reason, when choosing an air conditioner, we recommend comparing not only the purchase price but also the “トータルコスト” (tōtaru kosuto, total cost) including electricity bills over long-term use.
For larger 4.0kW units (mainly for 14-tatami rooms), the estimated electricity savings over time can reach about 180,000 yen.
Why Are People Worried?
Despite the projected long-term savings, some current models that do not meet the 2027 standard are still cheaper upfront—even when you consider 10 years of electricity costs.
Many consumers prioritize price. If cheaper, non-compliant models disappear, the impact could be significant.
In some electronics retail stores, POP advertisements—called POP（ポップ） (poppu) in Japanese—have been placed on non-compliant models with messages such as:
- 製造中止 (seizō chūshi) — “Production discontinued”
- “Did you know? The Air Conditioner 2027 Problem”
These displays encourage customers to replace their units sooner rather than later.
However, the Agency clearly states on its Webページ that the system does not prohibit the manufacture or shipment of products that fail to meet the standard. Instead, if a company sells both high- and low-efficiency models, it will be evaluated based on the average of shipment numbers.
So technically, cheaper air conditioners can still be made.
But will manufacturers continue to do so? That remains the big question.
Cultural Context: Why Energy Standards Matter in Japan
Japan places strong emphasis on 省エネ (shōene, energy saving). After periods of energy shortages and rising electricity costs, improving appliance efficiency has become both a policy priority and a consumer concern.
Air conditioners are especially important in Japan’s hot, humid summers. Since most households rely heavily on them, even small efficiency improvements can translate into significant national energy savings.
This is why terms like APF and government efficiency benchmarks are often discussed in mainstream media—a level of detail you might not see in other countries.
Learn Japanese from This Article
Let’s break down useful vocabulary and grammar you can use in real conversations.
Key Vocabulary
| Japanese | Romaji | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| アップデート | appudēto | update |
| APF（エーピーエフ） | ēpīefu | Annual Performance Factor |
| 省エネ | shōene | energy saving |
| トータルコスト | tōtaru kosuto | total cost |
| POP（ポップ） | poppu | point-of-purchase advertisement |
| Webページ | webu pēji | web page |
| 製造中止 | seizō chūshi | discontinued production |
Notice how many loanwords (カタカナ語) appear in business and technology news in Japan.
Grammar Spotlight ①: 〜のではないか (Speculation or Concern)
This pattern expresses concern or speculation, similar to “might it be that…?” or “isn’t it possible that…?”
From the article’s theme:
- 安いエアコンが消えるのではないか。 Yasui eakon ga kieru no de wa nai ka. “Might cheap air conditioners disappear?”
More examples:
価格が上がるのではないかと心配しています。 Kakaku ga agaru no de wa nai ka to shinpai shite imasu. “I’m worried that prices might rise.”
この基準は厳しすぎるのではないか。 Kono kijun wa kibishisugiru no de wa nai ka. “Isn’t this standard too strict?”
You’ll see this structure often in news headlines and opinion pieces.
Grammar Spotlight ②: 〜ことから (Because of; From the fact that)
This expression explains reasoning based on a fact.
Example from Daikin’s comment:
- 省エネ基準引き上げは、電気代の削減も期待されています。こうしたことから… Shōene kijun hikiage wa, denki-dai no sakugen mo kitai sarete imasu. Kō shita koto kara… “Because raising energy-saving standards is expected to reduce electricity costs…”
More examples:
長期間使用することから、トータルコストで比較するべきです。 Chōkikan shiyō suru koto kara, tōtaru kosuto de hikaku suru beki desu. “Because it’s used for a long time, you should compare total cost.”
出荷台数を踏まえた平均値で評価されることから、メーカーは戦略を考えています。 Shukka daisu o fumaeta heikinchi de hyōka sareru koto kara, mēkā wa senryaku o kangaete imasu. “Because evaluation is based on average shipment numbers, manufacturers are considering their strategies.”
Useful Expression
- 〜をおすすめします …o osusume shimasu “We recommend…”
Example:
- トータルコストでの比較をおすすめします。 Tōtaru kosuto de no hikaku o osusume shimasu. “We recommend comparing based on total cost.”
This is a polite and common phrase in business communication.
Continue Learning
Energy efficiency standards often involve numbers like 2.2kW, 4.0kW, and room sizes measured in tatami mats. To better understand how Japanese counts and categorizes things:
- Numbers and Counters: Contextual Counting Systems: Ready to dive deeper? Our lesson on Numbers and Counters: Contextual Counting Systems will help you master these concepts.
As Japan moves toward 2027, the debate over price versus long-term savings will likely continue. Watching how this story develops is not only useful for understanding Japanese society—but also a great way to build real-world vocabulary.
これからもよろしくお願いします。 Kore kara mo yoroshiku onegaishimasu.