- Ministry of Power has directed AC brands on the same via a notification
- India’s Central Government has taken the decision after consulting with BEE
The Ministry of Power in India, through a notification dated 29 October 2019, has asked all air conditioner brands to sell ACs (air conditioners) with 24 degrees as default temperature settings. This new order is set to take place from First January 2019.
“All brands and types of star labelled room air conditioners, namely, Multi-Stage Capacity Air Conditioners, Unitary Air Conditioner and Split Air Conditioner which are rated from one star to five star, based on their relative energy efficiencies up to a rated cooling capacity of 10,465 Watts (9,000 kcal/hour) and manufactured, commercially purchased or sold in India, shall ensure default setting of temperature in the room air conditioners at twenty-four degree celsius with effect from the 1st January 2020,” read the new sub-paragraph inserted in the notification.
This notification was originally introduced in August 2017 by the Government of India in the Ministry of Power number S.O. 2528(E). India’s ministry of power has also updated notifications about revised EER (Energy Efficiency Ratio) for unitary and split type air conditioners till 31st December, 2023. Click here to read the complete notification.
AC market in India
India, currently in a development state, does not have a high AC penetration rate. According to a report by Research and Markets, India’s air conditioner market revenues are projected to grow at a CAGR of 12.2 per cent during 2018-2024. India air conditioner market is highly competitive and fragmented with the presence of domestic, international and unorganized market participants.
The report read, “A growing number of middle-class households and rising buying power would continue to accelerate the demand for room split air conditioners (ACs) in India. Increasing office and retail spaces in the country along with booming tourism and hospitality sectors are also contributing to the healthy growth of the Indian air conditioner market.”
