Air conditioners (ACs) are being used heavily both day and night, which is causing a sharp rise in household electricity bills.
With summer at its peak and daytime temperatures touching 40°C, the use of ACs has become constant.
This non-stop use is pushing electricity bills much higher for every household. To tackle this, the Indian government has advised people to make one small change.
This step can reduce electricity use and help lower monthly power bills.
What Is the Government’s Advice?
The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) says that increasing your AC temperature by just 1°C can save about 6% electricity. This simple adjustment is not only budget-friendly but also good for the environment.
Why Is Setting a Higher Temperature Helpful?
BEE explains that many people set their ACs to 20–21°C, though the ideal comfort range is actually 24–25°C.
If someone sets their AC to 24°C instead of 20°C, electricity use can drop by up to 24%. This can lead to a big drop in the monthly electricity bill for families.
What Will Be the Countrywide Impact?
According to BEE, if only half of India’s AC users follow this advice, the country could save 10 billion units of electricity every year.
This would mean saving ₹5,000 crore annually and cutting 8.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. That’s a major step toward environmental protection.
Why Does This Work?
Technically, when you set your AC at a higher temperature (like 26°C), it cools the room faster and then the compressor switches off.
This lowers electricity use. For example, if you run your AC for 8 hours at 26°C, the compressor may only need to work for 5 hours or even less—especially if your doors and windows are shut tight.
You Can Also Change the Default Settings
BEE added that users can manually change the factory default temperature setting of their AC.
People are being encouraged to do this as a small yet powerful step toward saving electricity.
If every household raises their AC temperature a little, it can lead to major savings and help the country reach its energy goals.
