Delhi based think-tank, Centre for Science and Environment, has been advocating for sustainable building and cities in India. The country must design its buildings and cities for thermal comfort and work to minimise the use of mechanical cooling systems, according to CSE. The production of room ACs grew by 13 per cent every year since 2010, with demand expected to grow at 11 to 15% per year between 2017 and 2027, according to the Union Ministry of Power.
Since January, Union government has mandated 24°C as the default temperature for ACs. This mandate is part of new energy performance standards. India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency, needs to revisit, revive and expand its star rating system for all designated consumers, especially buildings. Air conditioning sector growth also is responsible for increasing its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions, further warming planet. Moreover, energy-efficient cooling can help avoid equivalent to 460 billion tonnes of greenhouse gases added to the atmosphere.
