With India experiencing record-breaking heat and surging demand for cooling, leading voices from across the air conditioning and HVAC industry gathered at the recently concluded summit to confront one of the country’s most urgent challenges: how to deliver affordable, resilient comfort for a rapidly warming nation. As air conditioner sales climb toward unprecedented levels and 76% of the population faces extreme heat risk, the arrival of summer has been abrupt and intense. Mumbai’s recent temperature spike to 38.7°C, nearly six degrees above average for March, serves as a stark reminder of the escalating climate pressures. Industry experts unveiled a bold vision for the future: widespread adoption of super-efficient, humidity-optimised air conditioning systems that can cut energy use by 60%, halve peak power demand, and transform the way India keeps cool. The urgency of the moment was underscored at the session “Can Today’s Air Conditioners Keep Up with a Hotter, More Humid World? Delivering Affordable, Efficient Comfort for the Global South,” organised by RMI and CEPT University at the Jio World Convention Centre.
The event convened leading voices from across the ecosystem, including Sanjay Sudhakaran, Managing Director, Bosch Home Comfort India Ltd; Akshima Ghate, Managing Director, RMI; Aun Abdullah, Vice President, Lodha; Mukundan Menon, Managing Director, Voltas Limited; Bishal Thapa, Chief Strategy & Impacts Officer, CLASP; Ankit Kalanki, Principal, RMI; and Dr. Yash Shukla, Principal Researcher and Centre Head, CARBSE, CEPT University.
Sanjay Sudhakaran, Managing Director, Bosch Home Comfort India Ltd, emphasised, “As the heat waves intensify and climate patterns shift, India stands on the brink of a cooling revolution. The Indian air conditioning market size was valued at USD 6.15 billion in 2025 and is projected to reach USD 21.59 billion by 2034, growing at a remarkable compound annual growth rate of 14.98% from 2026 to 2034. For the first time, advanced climate solutions, such as energy-efficient inverter air conditioners, government-backed incentive programs, and the widespread availability of affordable smart cooling technologies, are within reach for millions of Indians. This accessibility is driven by falling unit costs, increased domestic manufacturing, and supportive policies like the India Cooling Action Plan. As a result, these innovations are transforming not just homes and businesses but entire communities across the country, backed by the state-of-the-art R&D centres and testing labs.”
Projections indicate that by 2050, the nation will operate more than one billion room air conditioners, driving a ninefold increase in cooling-related electricity demand compared to 2022. According to the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI), Today‘s air conditioners are optimised for temperature-only cooling, not humidity removal. As a result, when people feel uncomfortable due to high humidity, they reduce the AC set point and overcool to compensate, which not only ‘chills’ the space but wastes energy. Most ACs sold Today can consume over 30% additional energy in real-world conditions to manage humidity, as revealed by the nine-month field testing conducted by RMI in Palava City. However, consumers have no visibility of this real-world energy use when they purchase the AC, as this ‘humidity-driven’ overcooling is not accounted for in the performance metrics adopted Today.
Industry estimates suggest that 60% of Indian districts, representing 76% of the population, are now at very high risk of extreme heat. Meanwhile, across Southeast Asia, air conditioner demand is expected to surge from 40 million to 300 million units by 2040, with cooling already accounting for as much as 10% of peak electricity load; it is expected to surge to 30% by 2040.
Akshima Ghate, Managing Director, RMI, said, “As India faces record heat and humidity, we cannot afford to lock ourselves into inefficient cooling solutions. Now is the time to act. By building right the first time and accelerating the adoption of super-efficient, humidity-optimised ACs, we can transform comfort for millions while safeguarding our energy future. The choices we make Today will define our resilience for decades to come.”
Industry leaders emphasised that India stands at a pivotal juncture, equipped with a strong policy foundation through the India Cooling Action Plan, robust energy efficiency frameworks, a growing manufacturing base, and increasing investments in research, development, and supply chains. These strengths position the nation to shape the global future of air conditioning, not only addressing domestic needs but also advancing as a leader in sustainable cooling exports.
Mukundan Menon, Managing Director, Voltas Limited, said, “As India’s air conditioning market doubles over the next five years, we must ensure efficiency standards keep pace with real-world performance. Addressing humidity and updating our testing protocols is essential, not just for energy savings, but for delivering true comfort and safeguarding our energy future.”
The discussion further highlighted the country’s potential to lead the development and deployment of next-generation, super-efficient, humidity-optimised air conditioning. Stakeholders agreed that collaboration across the cooling ecosystem, including buyers, manufacturers, standards bodies, and policymakers, is essential to drive meaningful market transformation.
Bishal Thapa, Chief Strategy & Impacts Officer, CLASP, highlighted, “Innovation is the game-changer India needs, just as changing the turf transformed hockey, addressing humidity in air conditioning will change the future of cooling. If we reimagine our standards and invest in super-efficient, humidity-optimised solutions, India can leap ahead, making sustainable comfort accessible to all and setting a new global benchmark for leadership and manufacturing.”
As temperatures and humidity continue to rise, the commitment to high-performance, sustainable air conditioning is no longer just an option; it is a national imperative. The momentum witnessed at the session sets the stage for India to lead the world in delivering affordable, resilient, and climate-smart comfort for the future.