Amid record-breaking temperatures and surging electricity demand for cooling, the world is facing a cooling challenge. This is especially significant in India, which is on track to operate over 1 billion room air conditioners (ACs) by 2050 — driving a ninefold increase in cooling-related electricity use compared to 2022. Without swift intervention, this explosive growth will place immense strain on the power grid and create serious environmental consequences.

This report from the Global Cooling Efficiency Accelerator (GCEA) — a coalition of scientists and cooling experts — unveils groundbreaking field-testing results from Palava City, India. Conducted over nine months in partnership with Lodha and CEPT University, the study compared performance of super-efficient AC prototypes against typical market models, revealing how they perform in real-world heat and humidity.

The findings are staggering: In real-world conditions, super-efficient ACs used 60 percent less energy than typical AC units, while reducing peak demand and enhancing occupant comfort. The study also uncovered critical gaps in current testing standards — particularly around performance in humidity. The current testing standards underestimate the real-world energy use of ACs in warm and humid climates largely due to the extra energy used by typical ACs to attempt to control humidity.

Bringing these technologies to scale requires rethinking how we define and measure performance. This report makes a compelling case for updating efficiency standards and accelerating early adoption of super-efficient ACs through procurement and demonstration efforts. It helps to raise the awareness of key stakeholders — such as government leaders, policymakers, AC manufacturers and industry players, and financial institutions — and garner their support for the development, commercialization, and adoption of super-efficient ACs in India and globally.

The enormous economic, grid resilience, and climate benefits India and the world stand to gain from commercializing super-efficient ACs and making them accessible to people is clear. By doing so, we can provide access to cooling for all, without further warming the planet.

This work was conducted in partnership with Lodha, one of the largest real-estate developers in India.