3 days ago
New AC rules set cool limits at 20-28°C. Which other countries set AC limits?
India is set to introduce a landmark regulation mandating that all new air conditioners (ACs) in homes, offices, and vehicles operate within a temperature range of 20C to 28C. This move aims to standardise cooling practices, reduce electricity consumption, and address the surging power demand during increasingly severe decision to regulate AC temperature settings is part of a growing global trend toward energy efficiency and climate countries like Italy, Spain, and Greece have imposed strict limits on public spaces, India's nationwide, cross-sector mandate is unique in its scope and ambition.
The regulation is expected to yield substantial energy savings, reduce emissions, and help stabilise the country's power grid as it faces ever-hotter IS THE NEW RULE?All new ACs sold in India must have a minimum temperature setting of 20C and a maximum of rule will apply across sectors: residential, commercial (including malls, hotels, offices, and theaters), and even air-conditioned government expects this measure to save consumers up to Rs 18,000–20,000 crore in three years and significantly reduce power consumption and carbon IS INDIA DOING THIS?The regulation is a response to:Record-breaking peak power demand (recently reaching 241 GW).The rapid increase in AC usage due to urbanisation and rising need to reduce strain on the power grid, lower electricity bills, and cut carbon OTHER COUNTRIES HAVE SIMILAR RULES?India's policy is among the strictest globally, but several countries have implemented comparable measures, mostly targeting public buildings and in response to energy crises:Italy: Operation Thermostat mandates a minimum AC setting of 27C (with a 2C tolerance, so as low as 25C) in public buildings, with fines for AC in public spaces must be set at or above 27C; for households, it is a recommendation, not a legal Similar to Spain and Italy, Greece requires public buildings to set AC no lower than 27C as part of a national energy-saving The government recommends a default AC setting of 28C in offices and public buildings, but this is not legally enforced. Rather, it is promoted through campaigns like 'Cool Biz'.USA (California): Some guidelines exist for energy conservation, but there is no statewide legal minimum AC temperature for homes or DOES INDIA'S RULE COMPARE?Scope: India's regulation is broader, covering not just public buildings but also private homes and vehicles, and is legally binding for new AC setting: At 20C, India's minimum is lower than the European mandates (which are generally 25–27C), but the move is significant given the country's climate and energy Unlike Japan and parts of the US, where temperature settings are recommendations, India's rule will be mandatory for all new ACs sold, with manufacturers required to comply.
