Heat wave in India: IMD has this important AC advisory for everyone

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has an important message for people across the country. In the midst of the ongoing heatwave, IMD has issued an important advisory on the right AC temperature. In its ‘Dos and Don’ts for Heat Wave’ guideline document, IMD has recommended people to keep their AC temperature to 24 degrees or higher.

“Maintain AC temperature at 24 degrees or higher.This will reduce your electricity bill and make your health better,” reads the document.
Incidentally, it is not just IMD, but also the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) that recommends 24 degrees Celsius as the optimal temperature for AC for human comfort.

One of the most common myths about ACs is that setting the temperature to the lowest cools the room faster, however in reality, this makes the AC work harder to reach the set temperature. The AC's thermostat directs it to cool the environment to the desired temperature. For instance, setting it to 18 degrees Celsius keeps the compressor running continuously, increasing energy consumption.
Conversely, setting the AC to 24 degrees Celsius or higher allows it to achieve the desired temperature over a few hours. This approach cycles the compressor on and off as needed, reducing both pressure on the compressor as well as electricity usage.