India to Standardise AC Temperatures Between 20°C–28°C in Push to Save Power Amid Climate Crisis

In a major move to curb energy consumption and tackle climate-related challenges, the Government of India plans to standardise air-conditioning temperatures across all sectors — including homes, offices, and vehicles. If implemented, air conditioners will be mandated to operate only between 20°C and 28°C, effectively eliminating ultra-low temperature settings like 16°C or 18°C, Union Power Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announced on Tuesday.

🧊 What Does This Mean?

Currently, most air conditioners offer a wide range of temperature settings, typically from 16°C to 30°C. Under the new policy, this range would be locked between 20°C and 28°C — a first-of-its-kind national mandate that would apply uniformly across all sectors, including automobiles.

🌡️ Why Is This Happening?

The government’s primary goals are:

• ⚡ Improving energy efficiency
• 📉 Reducing peak power demand
• 💰 Lowering electricity bills for consumers
• 🌍 Cutting carbon emissions amid climate change

“Fixing the minimum and maximum AC temperature range will bring uniformity to usage and help curb excessive power consumption, especially from extremely low cooling settings,” Minister Khattar said during a press briefing.

🏢 Background: What’s Been Done Before?

The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) had already mandated in 2020 that the default setting for all ACs (room and car units) should be 24°C. While this could be manually adjusted between 24°C and 25°C in commercial buildings, the current move would go beyond defaults and actually limit the allowed range.

⚙️ Who Will Be Affected?

This will apply to:

• 🏠 Residential users
• 🏢 Commercial buildings
• 🚗 Automobiles with AC systems
• 🏭 AC manufacturers and automakers

The government is currently holding consultations with industry stakeholders, including line ministries, appliance manufacturers, and the automotive sector. Guidelines will be issued after these consultations conclude.

🌞 What Triggered the Move?

India’s power demand is hitting record highs due to extreme heatwaves. On Monday, the country recorded a historic peak power demand of 241 gigawatts, with temperatures crossing 45°C in many regions, including Delhi.

ACs — increasingly common in Indian homes — have become a major driver of this electricity surge. Many users set their ACs below 20°C, putting pressure on an already strained grid.

📊 Energy & Cost Savings Potential

According to BEE:

• Most Indian users set ACs at 20–21°C
• The ideal comfort zone is 24–25°C
• Increasing the setting from 20°C to 24°C can save up to 24% energy
• Every 1°C increase saves about 6% electricity

✅ If even half of India’s AC users shift to 24°C:

• 💡 Save 10 billion units of electricity annually
• 💸 Cut ₹5,000 crore from power bills
• 🌫️ Reduce 8.2 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions

🗣️ Citizen Feedback: You Can Weigh In

The Ministry has also launched a live survey on the MyGov.in platform to understand public behaviour and preferences around AC usage. Open until April 5, the poll invites users to share their default temperature settings and views on comfort versus energy savings.

🧩 Bigger Picture: Climate Policy Meets Consumer Lifestyle

This initiative is part of a broader push to promote sustainable energy use, especially in urban households. With India aiming to meet its Net Zero 2070 goals, AC efficiency regulations are now emerging as a critical part of national energy strategy.

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