Air Conditioners May No Longer Cool Below 20°C, India Set To Standardise Band
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is exploring a default minimum temperature setting for AC remotes to promote smart energy usage.
Air conditioners in India may no longer be able to cool beyond 20 degrees Celsius and warm beyond 28°C.
Union Minister of Power Manohar Lal Khattar said on Tuesday that the government would issue a new standardised band for temperature control in ACs.
"Regarding air conditioning standards, a new provision is being implemented soon. The temperature standardization for ACs will be set between 20°C to 28°C, meaning we won't be able to cool below 20°C or warm above 28°C," Khattar said at a press briefing in New Delhi.
"This is a first-of-its-kind experiment, aiming to standardise temperature settings," he added.
Typically, room temperature is set between 20°C and 22°C whereas, as per standard comfort conditions, ideal temperature is 24–26°C.
In India, the recommended AC temperature range for comfort and energy efficiency is between 24°C and 26°C. The government has mandated a default setting of 24°C on all star-labelled room ACs.
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency is exploring a default minimum temperature setting for AC remotes to promote smart energy usage. In March, the agency invited suggestions from the public to shape energy-efficient cooling solutions.
The measures are aimed to reduce electricity consumption, reduce emission of greenhouse gases and also mitigate the effects of climate change.
The key focus areas of the survey are to seek inputs on optimising AC temperature settings, transitioning to BEE 5-star-rated models, integrating renewable energy, overcoming cost and accessibility barriers and exploring market incentives such as buyback schemes and financing options, as per a report in The Hindu.
