Rethinking indoor AC comfort
If the starting point is 22°C in a room, it gradually defines comfort
Updated At : 07:12 AM Jun 24, 2026 IST
In air-conditioned spaces, comfort falls within a range of 23.5°C to 25.5°C. istock
In many urban homes and offices across India, 24°C has become the default air conditioning setting. It is rarely a deliberate choice, but simply where the system resets when switched on. Cooling is now triggered more by routine than by immediate heat. Even when adjusted, thermostats tend to stay within 22°C to 24°C, a range that is rarely questioned. What makes this shift harder to notice is how quickly it becomes embedded in habit, how a routine gradually comes to define what "normal" feels like.
