Lok Sabha Question No. 3776 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-08-09
Subject: AC Temperature
Ministry: POWER
Asked by: VASANTHI M.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA

## MINISTRY OF POWER

## LOK SABHA

## UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.3776 TO BE ANSWERED ON 09.08.2018

## AC TEMPERATURE

3776.  SHRIMATI VASANTHI M.:

Will the Minister of POWER

be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  proposes  to  make  24  degree  Celsius  as  the mandatory  lowest  default  temperature  setting  for  air  conditioners  within  a  few months;
- (b)
- if so, the details thereof;
- (c) whether  the  Government  has  held  discussions  with  the  air  conditioner manufacturers in this regard, if so, the details thereof;
- (d) whether  this  initiative  is  being  taken  to  save  energy,  if  so,  the  details thereof; and
- (e) the  other  steps  proposed  to  be  taken  up  by  the  Government  to  save electricity?

## A N S W E R

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR POWER AND NEW & RENEWABLE ENERGY

( SHRI  R. K. SINGH )

(a) to (d) : At present, there is no proposal to make 24  0 C (degree Celsius) as the mandatory lowest default temperature setting for air conditioners. However, with  an  objective  to  promote  energy  conservation  in  space  cooling,  Bureau  of Energy Efficiency (BEE), under the guidance of Ministry of Power, have developed voluntary guidelines recommending  air  conditioning temperature  setting at optimal  level  of        24-26  0 C.  These  guidelines  have  been  recommended  for implementation  in  large  commercial  establishments,  such  as,  Hotels,  Airports, public office  complexes and large institutions. To take forward this initiative, a meeting  was  held  with  the  manufacturers  of  Air  Conditioner  (AC)  on  22 nd June 2018,  wherein  it  was  suggested  to  explore  the  technical  feasibility  for  default temperature setting of AC at 24  0 C.

It  is  estimated  that  an  increase  in  air  conditioning  temperature of room  by 1 0 C, saves about 6%  of electricity. Generally, air conditioning temperature  is  set  between  20-21  0 C,  whereas  the  ideal/optimal  temperature  is 24-26  0 C.  Change  in  air  conditioning  temperature  from  20  0 C  to  24  0 C,  will  save about  24%  electricity.  This  will  reduce  emissions  and  thereby  be  good  for  the environment; it will save money, and it is also good for health.

............2.

(e) : An outreach awareness programme for promoting energy conservation  in  space  cooling  through  optimum  temperature  settings  has  been initiated for disseminating information regarding the benefits of optimum temperature  setting  in  AC,  apart  from  other  measures  that  can  be  adopted  by consumers for saving energy.

Some of the other steps taken by the Government to save electricity include:-

- i. Standard  &  Labeling  (S&L)  Programme  for  appliances  to  provide  the consumer an informed choice about the energy saving and thereby the cost saving potential of the relevant marketed product.
- ii. Labeling of energy efficient agriculture pumpsetsupto a connected load of 15 KW.
- iii. Prescription of specific energy consumption norms for energy intensive industries notified as designated consumers and implemented through Perform, Achieve and Trade (PAT) Scheme.
- iv. Formulation  of  Energy  Conservation  Building  Code  (ECBC)  for  energy efficiency improvement in commercial buildings.
- v. Design-guidelines for energy efficiency in multi-storied residential buildings.
- vi. Demand Side  Management (DSM) in  Municipal,  Household,  Agriculture and Small & Medium Enterprises (SME) sectors.
- vii. Promotion  of  energy  efficient  LED  lamps  through  Unnat  Jyoti  by Affordable LEDs for All (UJALA) and Street Lighting National Programme (SLNP).
- viii. Promotion of Energy Efficient Fans and Agriculture pumpsets.

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