It’s officially peak summer season in India, because of which the rise in demand for ACs has been through the roof. More people are either getting a new AC or upgrading to a newer model for better cooling. Amidst this, though, one of the most overlooked things by most buyers is the ISEER ratings.
Most people simply look after the Energy Star, thinking they’re getting a good deal, but they forget that stars don’t provide the complete information. While that assumption of stars is mostly correct, it still misses the more important number sitting right below it, which is the ISEER rating.
Let’s take a look at what it actually means and why it should be the first thing you check before anything else.
Also Read: How to choose the right refrigerator for an Indian home in 2026
The most common misconception among people is that star ratings mean everything. However, it is important to understand that star ratings on an AC are just a simplified grade that the Bureau of Energy Efficiency assigns based on a metric called ISEER. In simpler words, you can think of stars as a school grade, while the ISEER tells the actual mark. Two 5-star ACs can have different ISEER values, so it’s important to look at the value first.
ISEER measures how much cooling an AC delivers for every watt of electricity it consumes across a full season of use. Yes, it’s not just for a single operating point, but rather for a full season’s worth of usage. And in this case, a higher number is always better. A unit with an ISEER of 5.8 would deliver more cooling per unit of energy than one rated at 4.9, even if both wear the same 5-star label.
Last but not least, how do you actually read the BEE label correctly? Well, the BEE energy label on every AC carries three things that are worth noting: the star rating, the ISEER value, and the annual energy consumption figure in kWh. The thing to look out for is the annual energy consumption, since it is the number that is the most practical of the three. Just multiply that by your electricity price in your area to get a rough annual running cost.
In the end, it’s safe to say that the AC energy star ratings are useful as a starting point. However, beyond that, for more detailed information, ISEER is where the real comparison happens. If you’re looking to buy an AC, it’s crucial to find the ISEER value on the label and factor in the annual kWh figure. Given how long an AC typically stays in a home, a higher rating is the smarter financial decision.
With that said, I hope this guide helped you explain the ISEER ratings and know what to look out for before actually buying an AC. For more such informative guides like these, keep on reading Digit.in
Also Read: How to choose the best AC for Indian summers: Complete buying guide