New Delhi: Soon all new air-conditioner (ACS) will come up with a minimum temperature setting of 20 ° C (° C) instead of 16 or 18 degrees and currently a maximum of 28 degrees against 30 degrees, one step that can be in a savings of Rs 18,000-20,000 crore for consumers in three years.Describing it as a “UNIQE experiment”, Electricity Minister Manohar Lal said on Tuesday that the new mandate for AC manufacturers would improve efficiency in cooling operations, to reduce the summer as the summer demands and reducing the increase in electricity bills.As and when the new criteria are informed, the new mandate will apply to air-conditioners used in sectors-from Ghrelu to commercial installations such as office blocks, malls, hotels and movie theater, often run their units in the lowest settings.The ‘experiment’ appears to be inspired by similar moves in Italy and Japan. While Rome has fixed the lowest temperature setting at 23 ° C for public buildings, Japan follows a certain temperature of 27 ° C.Government data indicates that an increase in temperature settings to cool down by an increase in each 1 degree C reduces 6%in power consumption. They also show that if 6 crore urban homes and 12 lakh commercial establishments keep their AC settings between 22 and 24 ° C, it will save 12-15 billion units annually and reduce the manufacture and carbon emissions of 4-5 coal-powered power plants and significantly reduce carbon emissions.Industry bodies representing manufacturers said that the step would increase their R&D expenses, but will also increase the demand for more skilled units, which usually cost higher.Based on the 2018 Bureau of Energy Efficiency Study, the government had made a 24-° C default setting compulsory for air conditioners in 2020 and suggested running units at 26–27 ° C, a temperature level that it was said to be healthy.In October 2023, the International Energy Agency said that India’s demand for electricity from domestic air-conditioners will increase considerably by 2050, potentially more than the total power consumption in Africa. It is also estimated that India will experience an increase in highest energy demand globally in the next three decades, inspired by rising income and a warming climate.The Gothe Minister announced a VGF funding of Rs 5,400 crore for 30 gigawatts for the exemption of inter-state transmission charge for green power by June 28, 2028. These decisions are expected to increase the investment of Rs 33,000 crore in battery storage projects and prove to be a bonn for 1 lakh transmission.
