By Chris Grundler, Senior Advisor to the Crux Alliance, and former Director of the Office of Transportation and Air Quality at the Environmental Protection Agency.
In the past 12 months, our planet has experienced some of the hottest temperatures ever recorded. From record-breaking heat in Greece and Japan to catastrophic flooding in Brazil and Kenya, the climate emergency is here.
India too is bearing the brunt. In New Delhi, temperatures recently exceeded 104°F (40°C) for 37 consecutive days, breaking previous records. Extreme heat causes illness, and even death, and the millions of people without access to air conditioning or cooling fans are particularly vulnerable. Last quarter alone, India reported over 100 deaths and over 40,000 heatstroke cases. Extreme heat also depresses economic growth, especially in the poorer, tropical regions, slowing sustainable development.
Why affordable, energy-efficient appliances matter
As temperatures soar in India, access to affordable, efficient cooling becomes crucial. Without it, the country faces overburdened public health facilities, losses in productivity, and heightened food insecurity. With increasing heatwaves, demand for cooling appliances also grows, straining electricity grids and increasing planet-heating emissions. In June 2024, Delhi’s power demand peaked at a record 8,647 megawatts, largely due to the surge in cooling. By 2050, India’s household AC electricity demand could outstrip Africa’s total power consumption.
Emissions reductions through everyday appliances
For over 20 years, CLASP, the Crux Alliance’s lead for appliances, has dedicated itself to demonstrating how appliance efficiency is a proven solution for slashing emissions, improving the resilience of climate-vulnerable communities, and catalysing sustainable development through increased energy access. According to CLASP’s recent Net Zero Heroes report, appliances account for nearly 40 percent of global energy-related greenhouse gas emissions.
The global appliance sector is growing, with billions of models in use and skyrocketing demand. Although appliances are essential for coping with climate change, unless they are more efficient, countries will not be able to meet the Paris Agreement’s goal of limiting temperature rise to 1.5°C. If we do not improve current efficiency policies, carbon emissions in 2050 could exceed climate targets by 9 billion tons.
The challenge is immense, but so is the opportunity
Enhancing appliance efficiency can mitigate climate change and improve the quality of life for billions of people around the world who lack access to clean and efficient heating, cooling, and lighting. CLASP’s Net Zero Heroes report outlines efficiency targets for ten key appliances. The solutions include stricter efficiency policies, complemented by market development programs and local manufacturing support to ensure universal access to energy-efficient appliances.
Policies to cool a billion people
To better understand CLASP’s impact in India, I spoke with Neha Dhingra, a senior manager at CLASP in New Delhi. Neha has witnessed the transformative power of the appliance sector first hand through CLASP’s technical support of the Indian government’s appliance efficiency program which, to date, covers 38 appliances. Recognizing the impact of residential and commercial cooling on national energy consumption, India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency’s (BEE) policies place a strong emphasis on that sector, with more than ten cooling appliance policies already launched.
Targeting ceiling fans
Ceiling fans are widely available in India, used by 90 percent of households. Recognizing this, in 2022 CLASP provided technical assistance to India’s efficiency policies for ceiling fans. This revision effectively increased the baseline efficiency for ceiling fans by 25 percent. Following the policy upgrade, a fan previously classified as 5-star (the highest efficiency) is now classified as 1-star (the lowest efficiency permitted to be sold in the Indian market). To increase the efficiency of ceiling fans, CLASP assisted BEE with market and technical assessments. The analysis helps BEE gauge the market, assess technology availability and industry readiness, and survey relevant international efficiency policies. This enabled BEE to ensure the policy revisions would align with India’s climate goals, advance its economic interests, and make energy-efficient fans more widely accessible to local consumers and exporters.
“At CLASP, we believe that efficiency policies are a key enabler for ensuring access to affordable cooling while limiting emissions growth from increased appliance ownership and use,” said Neha when asked about CLASP’s approach. “When complemented with market development programs, these policies enhance market efficiency, lower consumers’ electricity costs, and improve access to energy, helping people manage the heat more effectively. Our work on fans exemplifies how these initiatives can transform the market while supporting the Government of India in securing its climate, economic and consumer welfare goals.”
Market transformation
Recognizing the role of market development programs, CLASP supported Energy Efficiency Services Limited (EESL), a state-owned energy service company, in launching a market transformation program to deploy 10 million efficient fans in 2023. This initiative aimed to drive prices down through demand aggregation, making efficient fans more affordable for consumers.
To further drive efficiency and affordability, promoting domestic manufacturing of appliances is crucial. CLASP provides technical assistance to small, micro, and medium enterprises (SMEs) to enhance their supply chains and build their capacity to produce efficient fans. In addition, CLASP helps these enterprises to comply with regulatory requirements for fans in India, ensuring a robust, sustainable local market for efficient cooling solutions.
CLASP’s global strategy and local approach
With offices and on-going projects in the U.S., Latin America, Asia, Europe, and Africa, CLASP shares best practices and supports policymakers worldwide. This global presence allows for the integration of international standards into local policies, providing valuable insights and fostering a swift transition to energy-efficient appliances.
As India strives to achieve Developed Nation status by 2047 under its ‘Viksit Bharat 2047’ initiative, it needs to make strides in providing efficient, accessible and affordable cooling to all its citizens. Efficient cooling is also a key contributor to India’s net zero goals and essential in for preventing the worst impacts of climate change. India is putting in place a multi-pronged strategy to address this issue through ambitious climate targets, conducive policy environments, improved appliance efficiency policies, and greater private sector production capacity.
By taking accelerated action on efficient cooling, India can emerge as a net-zero leader and chart a sustainable, efficient cooling future for the global south. In doing so India will also create an opportunity to establish a local and robust supply chain for manufacturing cooling solutions, serving both domestic and global demands.
The loss of life from extreme heat is a stark reminder that accessible cooling can be the difference between life and death. CLASP’s work in India illustrates the multiple opportunities that stem from increasing access to affordable, energy-efficient cooling. Working with a wide range of stakeholders, CLASP’s analysis generates evidence and data to provide technical assistance which enables policymakers to confidently improve efficiency policies that reduce emissions and improves lives.
