- At the best of times, the prevailing weather conditions in the northern, western, eastern (some states), and central parts of India are extreme. Of course, aside from a couple of states in the southern region, other states also experience extreme weather conditions, making life miserable during the summer months. We have been witnessing a steady increase in daytime/nighttimetemperatures during the summer months, with muggy, humid, and intense heat prevailing. People inhabiting these areas know how challenging it is to face summer months, but equally pleasant, except for the biting cold, during the winter months. Indeed, the erratic weather patterns on the back of unabated environmental degradation have taken a toll everywhere.
PC: India Today
- With the increase in spending power, and unable to bear the extremely humid and hot summer months, many people are not thinking twice to embrace relief in the form of installing air conditioners at home. Cannot blame the people for choosing to look out for available relief by pumping in hard-earned money to escape the intense heat. However, the environmentalists would define ACs as firebombs, further adding to the already rising temperatures around. Why not the authorities and the people involved in the manufacturing upgrade the design of ACs to avoid increasing incidents of fires and blasts being reported most alarmingly? Is anyone keeping track of AC fires and blasts? Government isn’t.
PC: News18
- Note that there’s no official database of deaths and injuries resulting from these either. Frankly, nobody knows the scale of the problem. But judging by almost daily reports from across the country, it’s significant. And, at least two reasons are obvious. One, AC use is rising rapidly – roughly 1.5cr new units each year. Two, ACs are running longer without a break to counter the growing heat and humidity. Poor repair and maintenance, and use of inflammable refrigerants – required by law because they are eco-friendlier – are also factors. If nothing is done now, ACs could become a bigger hazard in the coming years, because AC ownership will grow fastest in India, and Indian cities will grow hotter, partly due to those same ACs using gigawatts of power.
PC: Business Today
- Further, the International Energy Agency estimates India could have 110cr ACs by 2050. So, what should the government do? Spreading awareness about proper AC use, service, and maintenance is important, but not a fail-safe intervention. Even NGOs can do that. The government should specifically address the minimum design standards for ACs and refrigerators. If it means overengineering compressors, so be it. Costs might rise, but safety comes first. With North Indian cities frequently hitting 45 Degrees Celsius now, equipment designed for 40 Degrees Celsius will fail, sometimes dangerously. Beyond safety, the government should also look at the energy consumption of ACs. The need of the hour is to have safer AC engineering in place sooner.
