Photo: AFP-JIJI
In an effort to save energy, the Indian Ministry of Energy recently proposed a new regulation requiring air conditioners sold in the country to have a thermostat that cannot be set lower than 20 degrees Celsius.
Current air conditioning controls in India are set to a minimum of 17 degrees Celsius but will have to be increased to 20 degrees Celsius under the new regulations.
Indian officials hope the regulation will help save a large amount of energy in this country of more than 1.4 billion people.
According to calculations by Indian authorities, each increase in temperature will help save about 6% of electricity consumption. Energy Minister Manohar Lal Khattar said the above proposal will come into effect soon but did not give a specific date.
Many mixed opinions
The news has received mixed reactions. Energy experts say the proposal is a positive step in saving electricity. Meanwhile, residents in some hot and humid cities in India hope the new regulations will not make their lives inconvenient.
"Sometimes there is no other way but to keep the air conditioning on low in cities like Chennai because it is so hot and humid. My 4-year-old daughter sometimes gets heat rashes if we don't lower the air conditioning," Vikram Kannan, a teacher in the northeastern city of Chennai, told the AP.
The Independent reported on July 14 that the Indian government has implemented many measures to save energy in recent years, such as requiring government agencies not to set air conditioners lower than 24 degrees Celsius. In 2022, the government launched the Mission Life program, encouraging people to reduce emissions by reducing electricity consumption, or limiting unnecessary car use.
India is one of the fastest growing air conditioning markets in the world with annual consumption of around 10-15 million units, driven by rising per capita income, rapid urbanization and increasingly hot temperatures. By 2024, India will become the world's second largest air conditioning market with 11.94 million units.
In India, air conditioners are one of the biggest energy consumers. At peak demand times in 2024, air conditioners accounted for a quarter of the country’s electricity consumption. Demand is particularly high during the summer when temperatures can reach 51 degrees Celsius in some places.
An Binh/International and Foreign Affairs Department
Source: https://baochinhphu.vn/xung-quanh-quy-dinh-nhet-do-may-dieu-hoa-cua-an-do-102250714193637298.htm
Comment (0)