(An earlier version of this story said that under the proposed plan the AC temperature settings would have to be within the range of 24 and 26 degrees Celsius, which is not correct. The error was inadvertent and is regretted. )

NEW DELHI: Soon, air-conditioners (ACs) sold in the country could come with a default setting of 24 degrees Celsius as part of a campaign to promote greater efficiency in electricity consumption for cooling. ACs will also have labels indicating the optimum temperature setting, which is between 24 degrees Celsius and 26 degrees Celsius, that is best suited for savings in power bill and health of consumers.READ: Full text of power ministry's campaign to promote energy efficiency in the area of air-conditioningThe power ministry intends to issue an advisory to all commercial and public establishments to keep temperature setting at 24 degrees.Based on the public feedback and a six-month campaign, the ministry may consider making these measures mandatory. According to a ministry statement, these were decided at a meeting with AC manufacturers on Friday.Every degree increase in the AC temperature setting results in a saving of 6% of electricity consumed. Normal human body temperature is approximately 36-37 degree Celsius but large number of commercial establishments, hotels and offices maintain temperature around 18-21 degree. "This is not only uncomfortable but is unhealthy," the statement quoted power minister R K Singh as saying at the meeting.Inefficient ACs - along with subsidy - was blamed for surge in power demand in Delhi earlier this month.ACs - and other electrical - appliances now have a star rating system for efficiency formulated by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, the ministry's standards arm. ACs also have SEER, a standard defining their cooling effect under varying Indian temperature and humidity conditions.In the summer of 2015, New York City's department of consumer affairs had launched the "Shut the Front Door!" social media campaign to check wasteful AC use by getting stores and restaurants to stop blasting their cooling machines while keeping their doors open.