New Delhi, June 20, 2025 — A record 14 million air conditioners were sold in India last year — a milestone that signals not just rising prosperity but also a growing struggle to adapt to punishing, sometimes lethal, heat waves.
For millions of Indians, the decision to install an air conditioner is no longer about luxury but survival. One young professional in Delhi’s bustling sales and marketing sector described saving up for months to afford the unit that would transform her stifling two-room home into a tolerable refuge after days spent braving the city’s near 50°Celsius heat.
“Earlier I would sleep on the terrace, but these days it’s so hot even at night, AC has become a necessity,” she explained, noting she had to choose between buying gold — a traditional investment — and investing in her immediate comfort and well-being.
According to the Indian Meteorological Department, 2024 was the hottest year since systematic records began in 1901, echoing a global trend of climate extremes. In May 2024, the national capital saw temperatures hit 49.2°C — matching a previous all-time high.
A Necessity — With a Heavy Cost
Only about seven percent of Indian households currently own an air conditioner, but residential ownership is projected to increase ninefold by mid-century. That means tens of millions more people will have safer indoor environments — a crucial buffer in a country where official figures show nearly 11,000 deaths from heat stroke between 2012 and 2021, though experts warn the true toll is much higher due to underreporting.
But there is a stark trade-off: cooling India’s homes, offices and shops demands vast amounts of electricity, most of which still comes from burning coal — the country’s dominant energy source and a major driver of greenhouse gas emissions. India is already the world’s third-largest emitter of climate-warming gases and burned through about a billion tonnes of coal in the 2024-25 period alone, according to government estimates.
In addition to its carbon footprint, the very design of air conditioners worsens local heat. The units pump out hot exhaust air, raising ambient temperatures in already sweltering urban streets. Studies by the World Health Organization and UN-Habitat indicate that the collective heat from AC motors can increase city temperatures by more than a full degree Celsius.
A Booming Market, Changing Attitudes
Experts say India’s booming AC market reflects not just rising incomes but shifts in how people prioritise comfort and productivity.
“AC penetration across India is driven by weather conditions, a growing middle class, easier financing, and widespread electrification,” said a senior executive from a leading international AC manufacturer. “Today, ACs are seen as a productivity and health investment — a good night’s sleep is critical for our well-being.”
One longtime seller of cooling equipment in Delhi’s historic market explained that his family’s store has seen sales more than triple in five years, thanks to first-time buyers and repeat customers replacing old units.
“ACs these days don’t last long, because so many pollutants in Delhi’s air cause corrosion and gas leaks in the machines,” he said, adding that the city’s notorious air pollution — among the worst in the world — not only threatens health but shortens the lifespan of home appliances.
Balancing Cooling Needs with Climate Responsibility
The surge in AC sales poses a massive challenge for India’s climate ambitions. According to the UN Environment Programme’s Cool Coalition, air conditioning alone could account for a quarter of India’s carbon emissions and nearly half of national peak electricity demand by 2050.
Yet India has not joined the Cool Coalition’s Global Cooling Pledge, which commits signatories to reducing the climate impact of the cooling sector.
Still, there are glimmers of progress. Consumers are increasingly opting for energy-efficient models, such as inverter ACs, which adjust power usage based on room temperature rather than running at full blast continuously. Manufacturers have also begun setting a default temperature of 24°C to discourage overcooling — a small but meaningful step in conserving power.
“Energy ratings are now mandatory,” said the Delhi-based shop owner. “People are more aware, and the savings add up over time. We will see the benefits in the long run.”
The Path Ahead
India’s air conditioning boom is a paradox: it saves lives and improves quality of life in a rapidly warming climate — yet it feeds the very crisis it is meant to mitigate.
With climate models predicting hotter summers and longer heatwaves, finding sustainable ways to cool India’s 1.4 billion people is now an urgent priority. Experts call for stronger policy incentives, faster adoption of renewable energy, better building designs that reduce the need for mechanical cooling, and public awareness to use air conditioners wisely.
For now, millions of households like that of the young worker in Delhi see no alternative but to install more ACs, one unit at a time — a testament to both India’s rising aspirations and its deepening climate dilemma.