India proposes 20C lower limit for air conditioners to save energy
India wants to limit temperature settings on air conditioners to save on energy
- India's government is proposing a new rule to limit the lowest temperature setting on new air conditioners to 20C, aiming to conserve electricity in the country's rapidly growing AC market.
- The initiative seeks to curb the significant energy consumption by air conditioners, which are major contributors to India's peak electricity demand and greenhouse gas emissions, with potential power shortages anticipated by next year.
- While the power minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, stated the rule would take effect soon, the proposal has received mixed reactions from the public in India's hot cities.
- Energy experts suggest that while the temperature limit is a positive step, mandating more energy-efficient AC units would yield greater savings and address the issue more effectively.
- India faces the challenge of replacing an estimated 80 million older, inefficient air conditioners, many of which would be banned in other countries due to their high energy consumption.