Vijayawada: Commercial establishments in Andhra Pradesh will be allowed to set only 24 degrees Celsius on their air conditioners as the state government is planning to follow the directive of the Bureau Energy Efficiency (BEE).
In a significant step towards promoting energy efficiency practices, the BEE, a statutory body under the Union power ministry, has made maintaining air conditioners at 24 degrees Celsius mandatory in all commercial establishments across the country. The BEE has also asked the air conditioner manufacturers to set default air temperature of ACs at 24 degrees Celsius.
Keeping the default setting at 24 degrees would also benefit consumers both from the financial and health point of view. The targeted commercial buildings will include hotels, shopping malls, airports, offices and government buildings etc.
In a communication, BEE director-general Abhay Bhakre requested the Andhra Pradesh government to ensure the strict implementation of BEE recommendations on air-conditioners.
“The default setting is the setting at which a machine comes from the factory. When the AC machine is switched on, it will have a preset temperature of 24 degree Celsius. A user can adjust or set the air conditioner at a lower or higher temperature, as per his choice,” he explained.
“As a proactive state in implementing energy efficiency measures, AP should take the lead and become a model state to others by saving power by the implementation of the guidelines on default setting of ACs at 24 degrees in commercial establishments,” he said.
He said the overall potential for energy conservation through such pro-active energy efficiency measures was estimated to the tune of 20 billion units (worth '10,000 crore) annually in the country. If about half (50 per cent) of the consumers adopt such measures, this would result in about 10 billion units of electricity, which is equivalent to the reduction of 8.2 million tonne of CO2 per year.
According to BEE experts, the normal human body temperature is approximately 36-37 degree Celsius, but large shops maintain a lower temperature around 18-21 degree Celsius, believing that it indicates a better cooling performance of the AC system. “In fact, it is unhealthy and uncomfortable and wastage of energy as well.”
