New Delhi, June 10, 2025 – The Union government, led by Power and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar, has announced a sweeping new regulation mandating that all new air-conditioning units—across homes, offices, and cars—must enforce a minimum thermostat setting of 20 °C and a maximum of 28 °C.
Why This Measure Matters
1. Energy Savings & Cost Reduction
Consumers stand to save ₹18,000–20,000 crore over the next three years.
Increasing the thermostat by each degree can reduce AC power demand by 6%—a key insight from earlier Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) findings.
2. Grid Stability & Emissions Control
Rising AC usage, especially during peak summer, places a heavy burden on local grids—as seen recently in Kolkata, which faced outages and transformer strain.
This regulation complements India’s broader push toward battery storage capacity (supported by a ₹5,400 crore viability fund) and helps reduce emissions in line with climate goals.
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3. Health & Comfort
While extremely low indoor temperatures can cause respiratory issues and discomfort, research shows optimal comfort lies between 20–24 °C.
Global Context & India’s Unique Position
Countries like Japan (default 28 °C), Hong Kong (25.5 °C), and US states such as California (not below 25.6 °C in summer) already regulate indoor cooling set-points .
India’s earlier voluntary “Mission 24” campaign in 2018 advocated a default of 24 °C—but lacked enforcement . The new rule is the first mandatory action of its kind.
Broader Implications & Challenges
- Industry Impact: Manufacturers must recalibrate thermostats and limit dial ranges; initial costs may rise marginally but are offset by long-term energy savings.
- Behavior Change: Similar to Japan’s “Cool Biz” campaign (2005), public awareness efforts may be essential for acceptance.
- Complementary Measures: Experts recommend integrating this with passive design, green building norms, and intelligent zoning as outlined in the India Cooling Action Plan.
A Step Toward Sustainable Comfort
This thermostat regulation is a strategic effort to balance consumer comfort, energy conservation, and climate responsibility. By restricting AC extremes, India addresses soaring electricity demand—especially as 80 GW of new AC load is expected by 2030.
Implementation challenges remain, but this move signals a robust commitment to sustainable cooling, long a critical gap in the world’s hottest-growing energy segment.
Looking Ahead
- Timeline: Manufacturers and regulators will need to monitor rollout and compliance over the next year.
- Impact Measurement: BEE and the Power Ministry are likely to quantify energy savings and emission reductions—translating goals into measurable outcomes.
- Policy Synergy: The AC rule dovetails with the India Climate Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), urban heat mitigation strategies, and improvements in grid resilience.
India’s AC thermostat regulation isn’t just a technical fix—it’s a paradigm shift toward climate-smart cooling, bridging human comfort and environmental stewardship.
