Summer is approaching. And as soon as the heat sets in, the use of air conditioners, or ACs, starts increasing rapidly. What was once a luxury has now become almost essential due to the impact of climate change. However, as AC usage increases, electricity bills also rise proportionally. The coolness of ACs and the sweat on foreheads due to electricity bills, ordinary people struggle to maintain a balance between these two. This time, researchers from IIT Delhi have shown a revolutionary path to solve this problem.

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A new module needs to be attached to regular ACs

No, there's no need to buy a new AC machine. You just need to attach a new module to the AC machine you already have at home. A research team led by Professor Anurag Goyal from the Mechanical Engineering Department of IIT Delhi has created this special 'add-on module'. According to a research paper published in the 'Journal of Building Engineering', using this module can reduce electricity costs by up to one-third without compromising the cooling quality of the room.

How does this technology work?

Current AC machines consume a lot of energy to reduce humidity in the air along with cooling rooms. This new system from IIT Delhi uses liquid desiccant (salt solution) and polymer membrane to directly extract moisture from the air. As a result, the AC machine doesn't have to work extra to reduce humidity, and the pressure on the compressor is reduced.

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How much electricity can be saved?

The researchers claim that while a regular AC typically consumes 1200 watts (1200W) of electricity, using this technology would bring it down to just 800 watts (800W). This innovation will not only save money for ordinary people but will also help reduce the severe pressure on the national power grid during summer, according to the IIT researchers.