India to Soon Standardise AC Temperature Settings to Save Power

In a bold step towards energy conservation and climate-conscious policymaking, the Union Ministry of Power has announced plans to standardise the temperature range of air conditioners (ACs) across the country. Union Minister Manohar Lal Khattar shared that the new rules will limit all ACs—whether in homes, offices, or even vehicles—to operate within a fixed range of 20°C to 28°C.

This policy is part of a broader initiative aimed at improving residential and commercial energy efficiency, cutting electricity bills, and reducing the environmental footprint of cooling systems. “The country is witnessing increasing AC usage due to rising temperatures caused by climate change. This move is essential to promote responsible power consumption,” Khattar said.

Currently, many ACs operate at temperatures as low as 16°C or 18°C, which consumes significantly more energy than necessary. According to the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), the ideal comfort zone lies between 24°C and 25°C, but most Indians set ACs between 20°C and 21°C.

Energy experts say that raising the temperature from 20°C to 24°C can save up to 24% in electricity usage, and each additional 1°C increase can save an extra 6%. If just half of India’s AC users follow the new temperature range, the nation could potentially save around 10 billion units of electricity per year and reduce energy bills by approximately ₹5,000 crore.

This shift also supports India’s long-term goals under the Energy Conservation and Building Code (ECBC) and the National Cooling Action Plan (NCAP), both of which aim to limit the rising demand for cooling and create sustainable energy patterns across urban and semi-urban sectors.

The Ministry has stated that these limits will apply across residential, commercial, and transportation sectors, and the implementation is expected to begin very soon.

As climate change accelerates and urban populations swell, India’s new temperature policy could serve as a model for other developing nations facing similar energy demands.