New Delhi, May 26 -- India can avoid power shortages and save consumers up to Rs.2.5 lakh crore by increasing air conditioners' (ACs) energy efficiency over the next decade, a study at University of California (UC), Berkeley has found. The study by UC Berkeley's India Energy and Climate Center (IECC) was titled "Beating the Heat: How Air Conditioner Efficiency Standards Help India Avert Power Shortages and Cut Consumer Bills". The Bureau of Energy Efficiency's 2028 upgrade to AC standards raises the minimum efficiency threshold by 25% The study calls for a long-term roadmap that progressively raises the bar until the most efficient AC (better than current 5 star rating/ ISEER 6.7) available in India today becomes the minimum standard by 2033. The authors stressed that ACs contributed as much as 60-70 GW, or 25% of peak electricity demand. "Without intervention, we risk blackouts or costly emergency fixes. But with smart policy, we can turn this challenge into a win for consumers, manufacturers, and the grid," said Nikit Abhyankar, lead author....