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Rethinking indoor AC comfort

India’s default air-conditioning settings, often fixed at 22–24°C, shape perceptions of comfort more through habit than necessity. Drawing on adaptive comfort research and the India Model for Adaptive Comfort, the article argues that indoor temperatures of 25–26°C can remain comfortable while significantly reducing energy use. Social norms, building design, and public signalling influence these expectations. Reframing what feels “normal” indoors is presented as both an environmental and equity imperative in a warming climate.

Supported by:

Ministry of New and Renewable Energy Govt. of India, Gujarat Energy Development Agency, U.S. Agency for International Development iNDEXTb (Industrial Extension Bureau) Govt. of Gujarat, Shakti Sustainable Energy Foundation, New Delhi