Want to cut your electricity bill significantly this summer? The solution might be as simple as pressing a few buttons on your AC remote. The Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) has revealed that setting your air conditioner to 24°C instead of the usual 20-21°C could reduce your power consumption by up to 24%. This small adjustment not only keeps you comfortable but could also lead to substantial savings on your monthly electricity bills. For every one-degree increase in temperature, you can expect to save approximately 6% on your AC’s energy consumption. It’s a simple hack that’s both wallet-friendly and environmentally conscious.

Instead of setting your AC to chilly 20-21 degree Celsius, which most people default to, the BEE recommends adjusting to 24-25 degrees, the comfort zone that balances cooling with energy efficiency.According to BEE, increasing the AC setting by just 1°C can slash electricity usage by around 6%. So, moving from 20°C to 24°C could reduce power consumption by up to 24%.

Cooling a room to lower temperatures requires significantly more energy. By opting for a slightly higher temperature setting, which is still comfortable, your AC doesn’t have to work as hard, and that translates directly to savings on your electricity bill.

If even 50% of consumers adopt this recommendation, the country could save up to 10 billion units of electricity annually. That’s equal to Rs 5,000 crore in consumer savings and a reduction of 8.2 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions each year.The BEE also noted that most air-conditioners come with factory default settings, but users are free to change them to 24°C manually.With energy bills surging and climate concerns rising, the government-backed Bureau of Energy Efficiency is asking consumers to make one change. Set your AC to 24°C, it’s better for your wallet, and for the planet.