Indian Government recommends: New Standard for Cooling
In a significant move to promote energy conservation, the Indian government is advising large commercial establishments to adopt a default air-conditioning temperature setting of between 23°C and 25°C. This recommendation, issued by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), targets major power consumers like hotels, shopping malls, corporate offices, and cinema theatres. The goal is to reduce the nation's energy intensity without compromising public comfort.
The Rationale Behind the Range
The advisory is grounded in compelling data. Currently, most large buildings maintain internal temperatures between a chilly 20°C and 21°C. According to the BEE, this is unnecessarily low and energy-intensive. Comfort charts indicate that a range of 23–25°C is optimal for most people. By simply raising the default setting, the potential energy savings are substantial. The BEE estimates that every 1°C increase in an AC's setting can save about 6% on electricity consumption. A shift from 20°C to a more moderate 24°C could result in total energy savings of up to 24%. This translates to an annual saving of approximately 10 billion units of power, or ₹6,000 crore.
Implementation and Scope
The initial focus of the advisory is on hotels rated 3-star and above. These establishments are encouraged to make 23–25°C their standard AC setting, while also managing humidity and airflow to ensure guest comfort. The guidance is not a rigid mandate; hotels can still allow guests to adjust the temperature based on personal preference.
Other large-scale consumers like airports, malls, and auditoriums are also strongly encouraged to adopt these standards voluntarily. It is important to note that this recommendation is intended for the summer months and does not apply during winter. The initiative represents a simple yet powerful step towards a more sustainable energy future for India, driven by small changes that can have a massive collective impact.
