Not As Cool

October 27, 2016

Why this study?

Centre for Science and Environment has carried out this study to know how energy efficiency of room air conditioners (RAC) perform when outside ambient temperature is variable and high. Room air conditioner is a cooling device that cools closed environments. The amount of electricity that room air conditioners use to do cooling is one of the critical parameters that decide the energy budget of households as well as that of the country. This appliance is inherently an energy guzzler and therefore a climate rogue. Regulations are shaping up across the world as also in India to set tighter energy efficiency targets for RACs, while passive architectural design is being promoted to improve thermal comforts of buildings to reduce its use.

As India has also started to set energy efficiency targets for this appliance it is important to understand the real world energy performance under different operative conditions and if the current benchmark and test parameters are adequately designed to deliver on the intended efficiency targets. It is known that climatic stress affects overall efficiency of these systems. But this is also an important reason to review and address testing parameters and standards of these appliances to minimise deviation and margin of deterioration in the real world to ensure targeted savings.