IS YOUR FACILITY'S COOLING STRATEGY READY FOR THIS SUMMER?

Before the hot weather hits, FM managers must reassess their cooling strategies to balance energy efficiency with rising costs and environmental challenges

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In India, air conditioning is more than a luxury it's an absolute necessity. But as energy costs continue to rise and environmental concerns mount, businesses must ask themselves whether their cooling systems are as efficient as they need to be.

As temperatures are set to soar in couple of months, with peak summer conditions regularly pushing past 42°C, air conditioning becomes critical to maintaining business operations and comfort.

But while air conditioning is vital, the industry faces an increasing challenge in managing its energy consumption. With cooling systems consuming a significant portion of a building's energy, facility managers must adopt strategies that not only reduce costs but also address the environmental and operational impacts.

THE HIGH COST OF COOLING

Air conditioning is one of the largest consumers of electricity, accounting for as much as 70% of total electricity usage during the summer months. This means that for many buildings, especially in urban areas, cooling costs can become one of the most substantial expenses for the entire year. This massive demand on electricity often leads to peak demand times when power consumption is three times higher than in the cooler months.

These figures are not unique to a certain geography, most Indian cities face similar energy consumption patterns, especially during the hot summer months when businesses and residential areas run their cooling systems continuously. What makes the situation even more concerning is that global energy consumption for air conditioning is expected to rise 10 times by mid-century, driven in large part by climate change and population growth in urban areas.