AC at 22°C best for your health, say experts

India Today

a day ago

As heatwave alerts continue across northern states of India, including Delhi, going up to 45 degrees Celsius, a new government move about setting AC temperatures could help more than just power savings, it could also be a step toward protecting public health.Union Housing and Urban Affairs Minister Manohar Lal Khattar recently announced that a standardised temperature range for air conditioners will soon be implemented across sectors.advertisementUnder the new rule, users will not be able to cool indoor spaces below 20 degrees Celsius or heat them above 28 degrees Celsius.
The regulation, expected to apply to both buildings and vehicles, is aimed at curbing excessive energy consumption and reducing environmental impact."This is a first-of-its-kind experiment,' Khattar said, 'to bring uniformity in air conditioning use and promote energy efficiency.'
Under the new rule, users will not be able to cool indoor spaces below 20 degrees Celsius or heat them above 28 degrees Celsius. ()
While the move is framed as a response to climate concerns and growing energy demands, doctors say the decision could have meaningful benefits for the body, especially during intense summer months when people rely heavily on cooling systems to stay comfortable.advertisementWHY AC BETWEEN 22C AND 28C IDEAL FOR HEALTHDr. Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant in Internal Medicine at Indraprastha Apollo Hospital, explains that air conditioners set at excessively low temperatures can disrupt the body's natural ability to regulate heat.'When you're sitting in a very cold environment and then suddenly step outside into 44 or 45 degrees, your body experiences a temperature shock,' he tells IndiaToday.in. "This transition can trigger colds, fatigue, or even stress the internal organs."He likens the body to a natural thermostat that is constantly working to maintain internal balance.However, artificially cold environments can override these mechanisms.
Dr. Chatterjee likens the body to a natural thermostat that is constantly working to maintain internal balance. ()
'If your body isn't given time to acclimatise, it reacts. And this reaction is more severe in elderly people or those with heart, liver, or kidney diseases,' Dr. Chatterjee says.While the government's new limits cap the minimum temperature at 20 degrees Celsius, Dr. Chatterjee recommends keeping it even higher, ideally between 22 degrees Celsius and 24 degrees Celsius for most people.advertisement'This range provides adequate comfort without creating a drastic temperature gap between the indoors and the outside,' he says, adding, the closer the indoor temperature is to the outdoor heat, the better your body can adjust.This is especially important during loo conditions (hot, dry winds common in North India) when the difference between indoor and outdoor temperatures becomes more extreme.
The closer the indoor temperature is to the outdoor heat, the better your body can adjust. (PTI)
He also points out that temperature preferences aren't uniform. The ideal setting depends on various factors: the direction your room faces, the quality of curtains or insulation, existing health conditions, and even the time of day."A room facing the sun might need slightly more cooling, whereas someone with certain medical issues might find lower temperatures harmful,' he adds.The government's mandate also ties into long-standing efforts by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), which in 2020 prescribed 24C as the default setting for room air conditioners.advertisementLowering cooling demands helps not just individual power bills but also reduces the strain on electricity grids during peak summer.'Extreme cooling is neither necessary nor beneficial. What's ideal is a moderate, consistent temperature that supports both comfort and energy conservation,' Dr. Chatterjee emphasised.