New Delhi, May 26 -- India can avoid power shortages and save consumers up to Rs.2.5 lakh crore ($25 billion) by doubling the energy efficiency of air conditioners (ACs) over the next decade, a new study at University of California (UC), Berkeley has found.

The study by UC Berkeley's India Energy and Climate Center (IECC), titled "Beating the Heat: How Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards Help India Avert Power Shortages and Cut Consumer Bills", highlights that India adds 10-15 million new ACs annually, with another 130-150 million expected to be added over the next decade.

The authors stressed that air conditioners were fast becoming the single largest driver of peak electricity demand- contributing as much as 60-70 gigawatts, or 25%, ...