Over the past few years, more Indian consumers have been buying air conditioners in varied price segments. From low-income groups to high-end users, the demand for air conditioners has shot up by almost 50 percent, especially in smaller Indian metros. In large cities like Mumbai, Chennai and New Delhi, new apartments come preinstalled with ACs, and premium homes come with split ACs.
In fact, the demand for split AC units is high, with split ACs enjoying almost 70 percent market share. An air conditioner is now a staple in many homes, and average homes have at least two AC units. Brands like Blue Star, Voltas, Godrej, Samsung and Hitachi manufacture a wide range of models to suit every pocket and requirement. Recently, with much-awaited innovation, an old AC brand, Lloyd air conditioner, has seen a comeback, making ACs for budget buyers.
The Need for ACs
Previously, ACs were considered luxury home appliances that only higher income groups afforded. Often, the concern wasn’t just AC price, but the way that ACs would guzzle energy and inflate power bills. Many brands that sell ACs today, be it a split air conditioner or window AC, have star ratings that represent the energy efficiency of AC units. More people are beating the Indian heat in summer and during monsoon, as they can now save on bills when they buy an AC with a BEE star rating.
BEE Star Rating and Low Energy Costs
“BEE” stands for the Bureau of Energy Efficiency. This is an agency that falls within the purview of the Ministry of Power under the Indian government. Created in 2002 with the primary aim of educating people regarding efficient electricity use, the star rating on any electrical appliance, such as an air conditioner, tells consumers how efficiently an appliance uses power. In its simplest form, the range of stars is from 1 to 5, with 1 standing for low energy efficiency, and 5, the highest.
Therefore, the more stars an appliance has, the less energy they consume. The government’s purpose is to save energy throughout the country, but this has a positive outcome for consumers who buy ACs with a higher star rating, anywhere from 3 to 5 stars. They stand to gain in terms of savings on their future electricity bills.
Tips to Reduce AC Bills
We often worry about incurring exorbitant bills during summers, as we use our air conditioner frequently. However, there are ways to stop your AC bills from piling up, even if you want to use ACs for long durations. The obvious solution would be to purchase an AC like the Lloyd air conditioner with a high star rating, such as the Lloyd 1.5 ton Inverter LS18156HAWA split model.
This has a 5 – star rating, as does LG’s split AC model LS Q18YNZA. Here are some tips to control how much energy the AC consumes, so that you don’t have to face the shock of unnecessary inflated bill amounts.
- Advanced Technology – The ACs of today consume as much as 30% – 40% of total power of the household. Choosing an AC with an inverter compressor that works to adjust room temperature according to the requirements of the size of the room, and external temperature, goes a long way in saving power.
- Size – Choosing an AC should be done according to the size of the room to be cooled, and not unnecessarily larger. For instance, a 1 ton unit can sufficiently cool a 100 square foot room, and 1.5 ton units suffice for a 150 square foot area.
- Insulation – Consumers may be careless while using ACs in rooms, and improper room insulation may result in air seeping out.
- AC Temperature – Setting your AC temperature at 24 to 25 degrees Celsius results in an energy saving of 25%. This is a comfortable temperature to maintain coolness.
- Timely Maintenance – Maintaining your AC to prevent faults will cut your energy expenses. Cleaning the filter once in two weeks is a must, as well as professional cleaning is done half-yearly.
Buy an Energy Efficient AC Today
Purchase your energy-efficient AC from the best brands like Lloyd, Samsung, Hitachi, or any other at the Bajaj Finserv EMI Store, and get great discounts. Pay with your Bajaj Finserv EMI Network Card, and opt for no-cost monthly EMIs.