Study shows setting air conditioners to 26 °C can halve electricity bills compared with 20 °C, especially for high‑efficiency units
Executive summary: A study by Papernest revealed that running an air conditioner at 26 °C instead of 20 °C can cut electricity use by about half for an A+++ unit, while a low‑efficiency G‑class device sees smaller but still significant savings. The result highlights a low‑cost behavioural lever for reducing residential electricity demand during heatwaves, with implications for grid stability, consumer expenses, and the market for high‑efficiency cooling equipment.
Who is involved: Papernest (research organization), Italian consumers, appliance manufacturers (especially those producing A+++ air conditioners), and energy utilities.
Likely next: Utilities and policymakers may promote temperature‑setting guidelines and incentives for purchasing A+++ air conditioners, while manufacturers could emphasize efficiency ratings in marketing.
The Papernest analysis compares electricity consumption of air conditioners set at 20 °C versus 26 °C across efficiency classes, finding that an A+++ unit at the higher temperature uses roughly half the energy of a G‑class unit at the lower setting. For a typical 50 m² space, the savings translate into noticeable reductions in household energy bills during summer peaks. The findings underscore the role of user behaviour and appliance efficiency in managing seasonal electricity demand.
Timeline
- — Caldo, condizionatore a 20 o a 26 gradi? Quanto si risparmia in bolletta (la Repubblica — Economia)
- — Blocco diesel euro 5, dal 1° ottobre stop alle auto in città: ecco in quali regioni (la Repubblica — Economia)
- — Ressourcen und Kosten sparen: Bundestag beschließt Recht auf Reparatur - was bringt's? (Handelsblatt)
Analysis — what this means
Likely next events
- Increased consumer adoption of 26 °C thermostat settings during summer
- Growth in sales of A+++ rated air conditioners as savings become more widely known
Sectors affected
- HVAC equipment
- Residential energy
- Appliance retail
Regulatory implications
- Consideration of voluntary guidelines for optimal indoor temperatures in public buildings
- Incentive programs for high‑efficiency appliances linked to energy‑saving targets
Historical parallels
- Japan’s Cool Biz campaign, which raised office thermostat settings to reduce summer electricity use
- EU’s Energy Labelling Directive that drove uptake of A+++ appliances
- US DOE’s Energy Star program promoting efficient HVAC use
Sources
- Caldo, condizionatore a 20 o a 26 gradi? Quanto si risparmia in bolletta — la Repubblica — Economia
- Blocco diesel euro 5, dal 1° ottobre stop alle auto in città: ecco in quali regioni — la Repubblica — Economia
- Ressourcen und Kosten sparen: Bundestag beschließt Recht auf Reparatur - was bringt's? — Handelsblatt