<p><strong style="font-weight: bold;">Union Power Minister R K Singh</strong> said that the <strong>government </strong>will consider making<strong> 24 degree Celsius</strong> as mandatory default setting for <strong>air conditioners</strong> within a few months.</p>
<p>At a meeting with Singh, <strong>AC makers</strong> were also advised to have labelling indicating the optimum temperature setting for the benefits of <strong>consumers </strong>both from <strong>financial </strong>and their <strong>health </strong>points of view, the <strong>power ministry</strong> said in a statement.</p>
<p>The temperatures settings in <strong>ACs </strong>will be in the range of <strong>24 to 26 degree Celsius</strong>, it said.</p>
<p>Singh launched a campaign to promote energy efficiency in the area of <strong>air-conditioning</strong>.</p>
<p>"Every one degree increase in the air-conditioner temperature setting results in saving of 6 per cent of electricity consumed," the statement quoted him as saying.</p>
<p>He added: "Normal human body temperature is approximately 36 to 37 degree Celsius, but a large number of commercial establishments, hotels and offices maintain a temperature around 18 to 21 degree Celsius. This is not only uncomfortable but is actually unhealthy."</p>
<p>The <strong>Union Minister</strong> was of the view that setting the temperature in the range of 18 to 21 degree Celsius compels people to wear <strong>warm clothing</strong> or use <strong>blankets</strong>; therefore, this is actually <strong>wastage of energy</strong>.</p>
<p>Some countries like Japan have put in place regulation to keep the temperature at 28 degree Celsius.</p>
<p>Therefore, he said that under the guidance of Ministry of Power, the<strong> Bureau of Energy Efficiency </strong>(<strong>BEE</strong>) has carried out a study and has recommended that the default setting in the air-conditioning should be at 24 degree Celsius.</p>
<p>The new campaign will result in substantial energy savings and also reduce greenhouse gas emission, he added.</p>
<p>The minister further said that to begin with this will be an advisory to be issued to all establishments and manufacturers.</p>
<p>After an awareness campaign of 4 to 6 months, followed by a survey to gather public feedback, the Ministry of Power would consider making this mandatory, the minister added.</p>
<p>The power ministry estimates indicate that if all the consumers adopt, this will result in savings of 20 billion units of electricity in one year alone.</p>
<p>According to the statement, AC makers at the meeting have agreed on this and appreciated it as a step in the right direction. They have agreed to support this campaign, it added.</p>
<p><strong>BEE </strong>informed that, considering the current market trend, total connected load in India due to air conditioning will be<strong> 200 GW by 2030 </strong>and this may further increase as today only about 6 per cent of households use <strong>ACs</strong>.</p>
<p>As per the <strong>BEE's current estimate</strong> total installed <strong>air conditioner capacity </strong>is 80 million <strong>TR (ton of refrigerator) </strong>in the country, which will increase to about <strong>250 million TR</strong> by <strong>2030</strong>.</p>
<p>Considering this huge demand, <strong>India can save about 40 million units of electricity usage every day</strong>.</p>
<p>The targeted commercial buildings will include <strong>airports</strong>, <strong>hotels</strong>, <strong>shopping malls</strong>, <strong>officers </strong>and <strong>government buildings</strong>.</p>