HSE Articles

Regulating the energy efficiency of Australian products with GEMS Determinations

Written by Laura Tieri

The purpose of GEMS Determinations

Using energy efficient appliances and equipment has both economic and environmental benefits. It can help reduce running costs for households and businesses, while also reducing associated greenhouse gas emissions.

In Australia, energy efficiency of appliances and equipment is regulated under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Act 2012, which is administered by the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards Regulator. The Act sets the energy efficiency requirements that appliances and equipment must meet before they are supplied in Australia. These requirements are established through legislative instruments called Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards (GEMS) Determinations.

Suppliers, importers and manufacturers of products that are covered under these Determinations must comply with their legal obligations. Such products can only be supplied, offered for supply, or used for a commercial purpose if the model of the product is appropriately registered and the product and its supply, offer or use complies with the relevant Determination.

The appliances and equipment covered by GEMS Determinations

Products currently covered by GEMS Determinations are:

air conditioners
clothes dryers and washing machines
computers and monitors
dishwashers
distribution transformers
various types of lighting, including double-capped fluorescent lamps, incandescent lamps, and self-ballasted compact fluorescent lamps
electric and gas water heaters
external power supplies
electric motors
household refrigerators and freezers
liquid-chilling packages (also known as chillers)
pool pumps
refrigerated cabinets
televisions.

Each product type has its own separate Determination, which specifies requirements for energy use, greenhouse gas production and labelling, and may contain other requirements relating to efficiency levels, performance, functionality, the environment and human health.

Meeting Minimum Energy Performance Standards

GEMS Determinations include the Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) that must be met or exceeded by a product being supplied or used for commercial purposes. These standards may be included within the Determination, or the Determination may refer to separately published standards. Products must be tested in accordance with the Determination or the referenced standards to ensure the MEPS are met.

Displaying an Energy Rating Label

GEMS Determinations also specify whether the product requires an Energy Rating Label to be displayed when sold in retail stores and outline specifications such as the size, content and display of the label. Energy Rating Labels include a star rating and the estimated annual energy consumption, which can be used by consumers to compare energy efficiency and running costs when purchasing a product. If an Energy Rating Label is not required, the GEMS Determination may specify other labelling requirements that must be complied with.

For further information on the products regulated by GEMS Determinations and the specific requirements for each, see the Regulated Products webpage.

Review and consultation of GEMS Determinations

The Australian Government regularly undertakes reviews of GEMS Determinations to ensure that they remain efficient and effective. Reviews usually include public consultation, where interested stakeholders are invited to provide their feedback on potential changes. Reviews and consultations can be undertaken for various purposes, including to propose changes to requirements for products already regulated under the GEMS scheme, or to propose the addition or removal of products.

The feedback received during consultation helps ensure that any proposed changes will be beneficial for both consumers and industry. For example, following a review of GEMS Determinations that were due to expire, it was decided that it was no longer necessary to regulate set top boxes, ballasts for fluorescent lamps, and transformers and electronic step-down converters for extra low voltage lamps, due to a declining market for these products and a lack of registrations. As a result, the GEMS Determinations that cover these products were repealed in October 2024. Additionally, consultation on updated GEMS Determinations for rotary clothes dryers and clothes washing machines resulted in an extension of their commencement periods from six months to twelve months.

To find current consultations that are open for feedback, or to read about previous consultations that are now closed for feedback, check the Consultations Hub on the Energy Rating website.

Knowing your GEMS Determinations requirements with EnviroLaw

Plain-English summaries of the legal obligations under the GEMS Act and its Determinations can be found under the Greenhouse and Energy Minimum Standards topic in the Energy Use category. Each product regulated by a GEMS Determination is covered in this topic under a separate summary. If you don’t have access to these summaries or an EnviroLaw subscription, contact our sales team or sign up for a free trial. You can also keep up to date with reviews and other consultations related to the GEMS Act and Determinations through the monthly HSE Bulletin.