Weather: ACs will become more expensive as new energy rating systems are set to come into effect | Rare Techy

If you’ve bought an air conditioner this summer, it’s all set to be old by July.

The energy rating rules for ACs will change from next month and the star ratings will be strengthened by one level, making existing product lines smaller. So, a 5-star AC purchased this summer will become a 4-star from next month, and others with more stringent energy guidelines for 5-star models.

This will increase prices by 7-10% due to the high cost of production, the manufacturers said.

Next up will be the tightening of electrical regulations for refrigerators from January next year. The companies said that the change in guidelines will make it difficult to manufacture high efficiency rating refrigerators such as 4 star and 5 star due to the huge increase in cost.

“The new energy-rating methods will improve the efficiency of air-conditioning by about 20%, which is needed as it is an energy-efficient product. There is a six-month window to eliminate the old furniture, but all new constructions will work. to match the new electrical label,” said Godrej Appliances business head Kamal Nandi.

The energy rating norms for ACs were originally scheduled to change by January 2022, but the manufacturers have requested the nodal body, Bureau of Energy Efficiency, to delay it by six months so that they can eliminate the list two years ago due to the Covid ban. . The next change in the rating system for AC is in 2025.

Lloyd’s head of sales, Rajesh Rathi, said that improving the electrical system would increase the material cost of manufacturing by ₹2,000-2,500 per unit. “So, as the price goes up, from the consumer’s point of view they are getting a better energy product. The new methods will make the Indian energy system one of the best. than the world,” he said.

Lloyd is an electronics brand owned by Havells.

Manufacturers said the new power rating methods will accelerate the obsolescence of older technology, high-speed ACs, as they increase the cost of new inverter ACs. Inverter ACs now account for 80-85% of the market, compared to 45-50% in 2019.