To save energy and make air conditioning use more uniform, the government is planning to fix the temperature range for all air conditioners. Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar shared the update on Tuesday.

AC temperatures to follow new rule soon

"Regarding air conditioning standards, a new provision is being implemented soon. The temperature standardisation for ACs will be set between 20 degrees Celsius to 28 degrees Celsius, meaning we won't be able to cool below 20 degrees Celsius or warm above 28 degrees Celsius," Khattar said.

He called it a trial move to check how this works in real-world use. "This is a first-of-its-kind experiment, aiming to standardise temperature settings," the former Haryana chief minister added. 

Right now, most ACs allow users to set temperatures as low as 16°C or as high as 30°C. But once this rule is applied, these options will no longer be allowed. This rule will apply across homes, offices, and other spaces where air conditioning is used.

Existing temperature guidelines

This follows earlier steps taken to manage energy use. In 2020, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) had already set a default temperature of 24°C for all star-rated room and car ACs. In commercial spaces like offices, the recommended range is already between 24°C and 25°C, to balance comfort and energy savings.

With this new rule, the government is looking to take the next step in making AC use more energy-friendly and consistent everywhere.

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