The environmental think tank, iFOREST (International Forum for Environment, Sustainability & Technology), questioned if proper AC operation and maintenance were being practiced to mitigate the environmental impact. According to their analysis, if an AC in India is refilled every two years, it generates emissions equivalent to a passenger car, indicating the substantial harm caused by ACs.
The survey, targeting high, middle, and low-income groups in Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata, Chennai, Ahmedabad, Pune, and Jaipur, found that urbanization, rising incomes, and escalating temperatures are driving the rapid growth in AC demand across India. Roughly 80% of the homes surveyed had ACs less than five years old, with 40% having ACs less than two years old.