Air Conditioner Temperature Settings May Impact Your Electricity Bills

It is common knowledge that Indian summers can get daunting, with temperatures reaching as high as 50 degrees Celsius in some places. This has resulted in most of the households, workplaces, and other institutions installing air conditioners, to provide reprieve from the searing summer heat.

However, very few understand the benefits of setting the thermostat temperature closer to the room temperature, and tend to set the temperature well below the ambient temperature. While it is understandable that one would prefer to remain chilly during the hot summer months, it may lead to a substantial increase in electricity bills.

It is important to understand how an AC works, and the role of a thermostat in cooling down the room. The air conditioner cools down the indoor air bypassing the air through the evaporator coils, and dispense it back inside the room. Furthermore, there is a general misconception that by setting the thermostat at a lower temperature, the AC cools down the room faster..

Does Setting Room Temperature To 18 Degrees Celsius Cool Down Room Faster?

In an air conditioner, the thermostat shuts off the compressor when the temperature of the room reaches the desired level. For instance, if the desired indoor temperature is 24 degrees Celsius, and you set the thermostat to the desired temperature, the compressor of the air conditioner shuts down once the temperature inside the room reaches 24 degrees Celsius.

If the indoor temperature increases, the compressor once again starts working to reduce it back to the desired level. Once the compressor stops working, the fans inside the AC take over, which reduces the amount of electricity consumed by the appliance.

Thus, setting the indoor temperature to 18 degrees Celsius does not mean that the room cools down faster. Instead, the compressor works, even more, to bring down the temperature to 18 degrees Celsius, and starts working again if the room temperature increases, which results in higher power consumption.

Ideal Room Temperature To Maximize Savings

Several factors affect the amount of power consumed by an air conditioner. These include:

• Outdoor and indoor temperature
• Room’s insulation
• Temperature setting of thermostat

The difference between the outdoor temperature and the desired indoor temperature has a direct bearing on the amount of electricity consumed by the air conditioner. The greater the difference, the higher the consumption, as the compressor has to work more to bring down the difference.

It is widely believed that the ideal indoor temperature is 24 degrees Celsius, which ensures greater comfort, and at the same time ensures that the electricity consumption is on the lower end. If the indoor temperature increases above the desired levels, the compressor of the air conditioner brings it down to the set temperature. Therefore, by ensuring that the compressor shuts down at regular intervals, one can ensure greater energy savings.

Thus, it is recommended that you set the thermostat at the ideal room temperature — widely considered to be 24 degrees Celsius, which enables you to cut down on your electricity bills. The Indian government, in an effort to promote energy efficiency in ACs, issued an advisory couple of years ago to AC manufacturers as well as commercial buildings to set the default AC temperature to 24 degrees Celsius.

The statement issued by the government also estimated that nearly 20 billion units of electricity could be saved annually, by setting the default temperature to 24 degrees Celsius. O General AC (ASGA18FTTA), for instance, has an ambient operating range between 52 degrees Celsius and 21 degrees Celsius and comes with a 5-star rating, making it one of the most sought-after ACs in the market.