Set air conditioners at 24 degrees by default: BEE to citizens

Set air conditioners at 24 degrees by default: BEE to citizens Theindiaprint | 05/05/2025 16:27:10

In an effort to encourage responsible use of air conditioners (AC), the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE), a statutory organization under the Union Ministry of Power, announced that it has stepped up its energy-saving program. In Hyderabad and other major cities, BEE has urged residents and businesses to keep air conditioners set at 24°C by default.

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Hyderabad, which has a population of over 90 lakh and a sizable residential and commercial consumer base, has been designated by BEE as one of the major focus cities in the energy-saving initiative that encourages cost-effective AC usage to benefit both consumers and the environment and promotes energy-efficient cooling to combat rising temperatures.

Telangana State Renewable Energy Development Corporation (TSREDCO), the State designated agency (SDA), must start a targeted awareness campaign that targets the city’s residences, workplaces, shopping centers, hotels, and government buildings, according to BEE Secretary Milind Deore.

“National power stability and climate objectives are also strongly impacted by Hyderabad’s energy consumption pattern. “A collective move to 24°C AC settings could be revolutionary,” Deore said during the first round of discussions with important SDAs. Also in attendance were directors Kamran Sheikh and Abhishek Sharma.

TSREDCO’s managing director, V Aneela, affirmed that the organization would pursue this program aggressively across Hyderabad and Telangana.

For all new air conditioners, BEE has recommended that the factory default temperature be 24°C. “We could greatly reduce power demand and emissions if even 50% of Hyderabad’s consumers adopt this practice,” Deore said.

The effort must be vigorously implemented in high-consumption areas including hotels, IT parks, airports, retail centers, and governmental offices, according to BEE. According to an official BEE release, an air conditioner that runs for 8 to 10 hours a day may generate about 10 kg of CO₂, therefore effective use is crucial to halting climate change.

A mere 1°C increase in the AC temperature setting can cut electricity consumption by up to 6%, save up to 20 billion units of electricity annually, save the nation up to Rs 10,000 crore, and reduce carbon emissions by 8.2 million tonnes annually, according to BEE estimates.