Global HVAC leader Midea has made history by becoming the first manufacturer to achieve the Controls Verification Procedure (CVP) certification from the Air-Conditioning, Heating, and Refrigeration Institute (AHRI), marking a major milestone in energy performance testing and validation for the HVAC industry.
The certification was verified by Intertek and officially announced at the AHR Expo 2025, confirming Midea’s systems as the first to meet the CVP’s advanced real-world energy testing standards.
A New Era of Energy Performance Testing
The AHRI’s CVP certification represents a fundamental shift in how energy efficiency and performance are measured. Unlike traditional “locked unit” testing, where systems operate under controlled lab conditions, CVP employs an “unlocked” configuration mode that simulates true end-user behavior—maintaining real operational parameters like compressor control, airflow, and TXV (thermostatic expansion valve) settings.
This ensures that certified systems are evaluated under realistic usage conditions rather than perfect laboratory environments. For Midea, this certification validates that the efficiency and performance results claimed on paper are accurately reflected in the field, an important step toward transparency and sustainability in HVAC innovation.
Intertek Verification and AHR Recognition
At the AHR Expo 2025, Intertek presented Midea with the first Global CVP Compliance Certificate for air conditioners—an achievement that underscores the company’s continued leadership in next-generation HVAC innovation. Phil Huang, Head of Midea RAC North America, accepted the award, noting that the certification reflects the brand’s “dedication to innovation and mission to make energy-efficient technology accessible to all”.
Intertek’s recognition also reinforces the company’s global standing in HVAC testing, compliance, and its commitment to develop more accessible, electrified heating and cooling technologies designed around both performance and sustainability.
The Alaska Discovery Project and Real-World Excellence
Midea’s achievement follows the success of its Cold Climate Heat Pump (CCHP) featured in the Alaska Discovery Project. The system demonstrated consistent operation and full heating capacity in ambient temperatures as low as –40°F (–40°C), proving the brand’s cold-weather engineering capabilities and real-world reliability across extreme climates.
The project aligns with global decarbonization targets by offering efficient electrified solutions that can replace fossil-fuel-based heating systems, extending comfort and efficiency to colder regions previously underserved by conventional heat pump technologies.
Toward Smarter, Greener HVAC Solutions
Beyond product performance, Midea is also expanding its integrated HVAC ecosystem with smart energy management services that let homeowners and business operators monitor, control, and optimize energy use remotely. By linking equipment data to intelligent controls, users gain enhanced insights into energy consumption patterns and can adopt real-time efficiency strategies.
This fusion of AI-driven controls and verified efficiency through CVP positions Midea as a front-runner in the global shift toward digitalized, environmentally responsible HVAC systems.
Global Collaboration on Standards
Midea’s collaboration with AHRI builds on years of joint work advancing global HVAC standards. AHRI’s president, Stephen Yurek, praised the company’s role in driving innovation and compliance, highlighting that Midea achieved 100% testing compliance across several product categories over three consecutive years, including PTAC, VMAC, and PTHP systems.
During AHRI’s 2025 strategic visit to Midea headquarters, both organizations discussed accelerating unified standards, improving regulatory access, and establishing localized benchmarks for energy efficiency—further cementing Midea’s status as a key partner in global HVACR reform.
Conclusion
Midea’s CVP certification milestone marks a transformative moment in HVAC history—blending engineering excellence, sustainability, and independent verification into one achievement. As the first company to pass AHRI’s new Controls Verification Procedure, Midea sets the benchmark for how performance claims should be validated in the era of intelligent, renewable-driven climate control systems.
This breakthrough doesn’t just reflect a stricter testing process—it signals a shift toward trustworthy, transparent, and high-performance systems that redefine what energy efficiency means for the modern built environment.