Why You Should Keep the AC at 24°C in Summer

The summer heat is almost upon us. With the winters slowly but noticeably receding, preparing for the summer is not an idle thought anymore: it is an urgent necessity.  With temperatures increasing by the minute, the Indian summers are hot enough to warrant the cooling relief of an air conditioner.

While an air conditioner might prove essential to beat the summer heat, it comes with its own set of downsides. For instance, a high amount of usage can lead to high electricity costs. However, this issue can easily be mitigated by taking a few, simple steps. Read on to know how one can cool off in the refreshing breeze of an air conditioner while also keeping within their budget.

To understand how to go about this, you would first need to understand the inner workings of an air conditioner.

How does an AC work?

When an air conditioner is turned on in a hot room, it cools the air by pushing the hot air through the evaporator coils. The refrigerant in the compressor cools the air that is then pushed out into the room. This process is repeated until the entire room is cooled. Depending upon the level the thermostat is set at, the room will be cooled accordingly. This means that lower the desired temperature, the longer the air conditioner will have to work and thus, the more the electricity it will consume. This, in turn, will impact the user’s electricity outgo.

The Smarter Cooling Option

Let’s assume that the average room temperature in summer is about 35 degrees celsius. Now, if the air conditioner is cooling all the way down to 18 degrees celsius, it will consume a considerable amount of energy. On the other hand, if the air conditioner is cooling the room only up to 24 degrees celsius, it will consume relatively less energy. What’s more, in the latter case, not only will the energy consumed be less; rather, the occupant of the room would also be comfortable.

By setting a lower temperature of 24 degrees Celsius, one can effectively counter the problem of high power consumption and, in turn, high electricity bills. Moreover, a temperature somewhere in the 20s is far from uncomfortable: it is, in fact, ideal for cooling off without getting excessively cold. This makes the latter temperature the more economical and effective one.

How much electricity can a 24 degree Celsius temperature save?

To understand this reasoning better, here’s an example. As per a study from LiveMint, if you were to increase your AC’s temperature from 18 degrees Celsius to 24 degrees, you could save approximately Rs. 3,900 in a year.  Your energy usage per day would decrease from 13.0 kWh per day to 10.5 kWh per day. Consequently, your electricity outgo would decrease by approximately 19.2%.

Conclusion-

Thus, when the thermostat is set at 24 degrees celsius, the amount of energy used in cooling the room is less, and thus, the electricity bill garnered, too, is less. All of this can be achieved while being comfortable and insulated from the summer heat. If you are looking to buy a brand new AC for your home or office then you can go through this AC buying guide and it’ll surely help you to decide in choosing the best AC for your home or office as per your budget and requirements.