Difference between 4-star AC and 5-star AC: Which air conditioner is best for you?

You may have noticed the very prominent star ratings on various electronic appliances, represented by white stars on a red background. Here, we will explore the star ratings and how different ratings impact your electricity costs for your AC, particularly how a 4-star AC & 5-star AC rank, compared to each other.

In India, star ratings for air conditioners and other appliances are based on a system devised by the Bureau of Energy Efficiency, a government agency that sets the standards for energy consumption by various home appliances. ACs are rated as per a tested Energy Efficiency Ratio (EER), which is a calculation of how much cooling is produced per Watt of electrical power consumed. The higher this ratio, the better, as the AC naturally uses much less power to produce the desired cooling effect.

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Furthermore, the star rating is only valid for a specified period of time, mentioned on the rating label as the ‘label period’. These ratings are periodically revised to ensure that manufacturers continue to innovate towards making their products more energy efficient, and newer products are naturally held to the improved standards. As the buyer, you should check not only the star rating but also the label period, to ensure that the AC you are buying is in line with the current energy efficiency standards.

Of course, the higher the star rating, the more power-efficient your air conditioner will be, so if you’re concerned about your electricity bills, then you should look at buying a 5-star AC. It goes without saying that 4-star and 5-star air conditioners are considerably more efficient to operate than 1-star air conditioners, with the latter using around 40-50 per cent less electricity to produce the same cooling effect.

The difference in electricity consumption between a 4-star AC and 5-star AC is considerably lower than when compared to a 1-star or 2-star air conditioner. However, if you intend to use your AC for many hours a day during the summer months, this could make a difference of thousands of rupees of savings in your annual electricity bills. A 5-star AC is estimated to be around 10-15% more efficient than a 4-star AC, which will naturally impact your electricity bill accordingly.