Residential Energy Consumption Patterns and Appliance Ownership in India: Insights From a 2024 Household Survey

India’s energy landscape is rapidly evolving, driven by a growing population, an expanding economy, and growing access to modern energy services.

With a population exceeding 1.4 billion, India’s residential sector is a key contributor to the country’s overall electricity consumption. As of 2024–25, it accounts for ~25% of total electricity usage in the country, with an annual growth rate of 6%.

To better understand the factors driving up this energy use, CLASP conducted a study examining appliance ownership, usage patterns, and their impact on residential electricity demand. The study draws on data collected from a sample of 4,321 households across 20 states, covering both urban and rural areas and representing major climatic zones.

Key findings

Energy consumption in surveyed households is not uniform: Climatic conditions, socioeconomic status, awareness of energy efficiency strongly influence appliance use.

Among surveyed households, electricity use is primarily driven by thermal comfort, which accounts for 40% of total consumption, reflecting the growing demand for cooling solutions. Kitchen appliances contribute 28% to electricity use, while lighting accounts for 11%, and other miscellaneous uses make up the remaining 21%.

Annual electricity use in surveyed households by end use

Affordability is a decisive factor in appliance purchases, often outweighing energy efficiency considerations.
Consumer behavior around energy efficiency is inconsistent. All surveyed households reported using LED lighting, however, only 2% actively considered energy efficiency when purchasing lighting solutions. This contrast highlights the importance of initiatives promoting the adoption of energy-efficient technologies.

By identifying the key factors that influence residential energy use, this study aims to inform the development of effective energy efficiency policies and provide policy recommendations for managing growing demand efficiently. By acting on these insights, India can ensure that its residential sector evolves in a sustainable, energy-efficient, and climate-resilient manner.

Collective action for people,
prosperity, and planet.

A note from CLASP’s CEO,
Christine Egan

Appliance and equipment energy efficiency is a triple-win for people, planet, and prosperity. In a time of multiplying global crises, it stands out as a durable climate solution and key element of smart decarbonization strategies. It also creates jobs and improves livelihoods, enhances energy security and food system resilience, and helps people adapt to a changing climate.

Looking back at 2025, I’m wowed by the work of CLASP’s global team and dedicated partners, and the focus of the decisionmakers we support. Through purposeful collaboration, we forged the policy instruments, finance, and intelligence to drive positive momentum.

Together, we are changing the way we use energy.

2025 by the numbers:

4.6 Gt 18 CLASP-supported appliance and equipment efficiency policies will avoid 4.6 gigatons of CO₂ by 2050, improving planetary and human health and saving money.

30K+ Over 30,000 people experienced improved health and livelihoods via access to efficient, solar powered appliances and equipment.

Skyline of Jakarta, Indonesia

Image credit: CLASP

Elevating Appliance Efficiency in National Climate Commitments

What we did

Ahead of COP30, CLASP led a global campaign to improve inclusion of appliance and equipment energy efficiency in national climate goals (nationally determined contributions or NDCs).

How we did it

Through our Net Zero Appliance NDC Toolkit and bespoke support for governments around the globe, CLASP elevated appliance efficiency policy as a key climate mitigation solution. Now, appliance and equipment efficiency policy is included in 90% of all submitted NDCs—up from below 50% in the last cycle.

CLASP team meeting appliance users in the field in Mbita, Kenya
Image credit: CLASP

Powering Africa’s Green Economy

Solar-powered appliances and equipment turn energy into opportunity, helping small businesses generate jobs and income. In 2025, CLASP re-launched our innovative Productive Use Financing Facility to make it cheaper and easier for entrepreneurs, farmers, and small businesses in Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria to buy solar-powered appliances and equipment that power livelihoods. Last year, CLASP partnered with 11 companies to drive jobs and economic growth in Africa’s informal and agricultural sectors, which make up 70-80% of African economies.

Read the article

Slashing Emissions Through Smart Policy

Australia
National leaders passed a lighting policy that will transition Australia’s market to an all-LED future and avoid 41 Mt of CO₂ by 2050, informed by CLASP-led analysis.

Brazil
Policymakers made strides in Brazil’s LED transition with CLASP’s support, approving a lighting policy package that will slash nearly 3 Mt CO₂ by 2050.

China
CLASP supported seven major policy updates, including for compressed air systems, refrigerators, and water pumps. Altogether, the new policies are estimated to cut nearly 3 Gt CO₂ by 2050.

India
CLASP supported the advancement of policies for space cooling appliances that will place India among global leaders in efficiency and cut 1.2 Gt CO₂ by 2050.

Ceiling fans in use at a dry fruits store in Crawford Market, Mumbai, India.
Image credit: ImageDB

Making Efficient, Affordable Fans the New Standard in India

India is one of the places on the planet most at risk of extreme heat. 90% of households rely on fans as their only form of space cooling. CLASP partnered with government and private sector partners to drastically improve fan efficiency, availability, and affordability. A major part of the effort was supporting small and medium enterprises to improve their production capacity.

The impact has been catalytic. Together, CLASP and partners cut energy demand and climate emissions from cooling, while safeguarding jobs, strengthening local supply chains, and making efficient cooling more affordable to the people who need it.

Read the article

Joining Up with the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) Programme

CLASP joined the UK Aid-supported MECS programme as a core partner alongside Loughborough University and the World Bank’s ESMAP. CLASP now leads on venture building and market shaping, helping e-cooking businesses scale up. In 2025, CLASP launched the Global LEAP Awards Induction Cooktops Competition to identify and promote the most innovative electric cooktops on the market.

CLASP's Sumedha Awasthy & Nya Abagi at the Global LEAP Awards Induction Cooktops Competition workshop in New Delhi, India.
Image credit: CLASP

EcoBora, an innovative electric cooking company in Kenya, supported by CLASP through the MECS programme.
Image credit: CLASP

CLASP’s India Director, Neha Dhingra, speaking at the Modern Energy Cooking Forum in New Delhi, India, in September 2025.
Image credit: Finovista

Emmanuel Aziebor, CLASP’s Senior Director, Africa, at Kenya Clean Cooking Week.
Image credit: CLASP

How UK Housing Authorities Can Power the Switch to Electric Cooking

Global Action Plan, in partnership with CLASP, piloted gas-to-electric cooking retrofits in a social housing community in Manchester.

For participating households, switching to electric meant more than lower emissions. It meant breathing more easily in the kitchen, a cleaner and more practical cooking experience, and greater peace of mind for families with young children. Every household preferred its new induction cooktop over gas.

Watch the video:

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Powering the shift: helping people transition from gas to electric cooking

A local manufacturer builds a motor in Gujranwala, Pakistan.
Image credit: CLASP

Economies Can Boom When Powered by Efficient Motor Systems

Industrial motor systems are the invisible heartbeat of economic development. Universally used across industrial facilities, they power the production of goods like metals, paper, cement, textiles, and packaged food. Motor systems are also ferocious energy consumers, due to their function and prevalence. Without intervention, and in step with global economic development and industrialization, by 2050 motor systems will account for 35% of global electricity demand and 19% of energy related emissions. CLASP is taking action on this priority appliance in the fight for Net Zero, identifying high impact opportunities at national and global scales to drive up efficiency, slash emissions, and boost economic progress.

CLASP’s Edilaine Camillo presents the Infoenergia Award to journalists at COP30.
Image credit: CLASP

In Brazil, Partnering for Change

Ahead of COP30 in Brazil, CLASP joined forces with science communication agency Bori to drive national awareness of the benefits of appliance efficiency. Our InfoEnergia Mentorship was an 8-week, in-depth workshop that connected 25 journalists with experts and expertise to produce smart, contextualized reporting on appliance efficiency and its social, economic, and environmental impacts. Robust local journalism is a key element of durable climate policy.

Elevating Appliance-Centered Solutions at COP30

At COP 30 in Brazil, appliance and equipment energy efficiency stood out as a powerful climate solution, driving job creation, energy security, and adaptive capacity. CLASP provided expert testimony on the power of appliance efficiency solutions.

CLASP’s Bishal Thapa participated in discussion on space cooling solutions, offering insights about the benefits of efficient cooling technologies that slash emissions.
Image credit: CLASP

CLASP’s Edilaine Camillo moderated a conversation on the principal role of efficiency in Brazil’s energy transition during an agency-led day of efficiency themed events.
Image credit: CLASP

CLASP’s Bishal Thapa took part in a panel hosted by Casa Civil to speak about the role of energy efficiency policy in Brazil’s reindustrialization strategy.
Image credit: CLASP

Insights driving action

Delivering COP28’s Doubling Efficiency Goal Through Appliances

Appliance efficiency will play a critical role in meeting the COP28 commitment to double the global rate of energy efficiency improvement by 2030. CLASP research found it could deliver 20% of the energy savings needed, highlighting the value of strong standards, clear targets, and international collaboration.

The Missing Piece of Energy Access

666 million people, most of them in Africa, lack access to electricity. 2025 CLASP research shows that directing just 15% of existing energy investments toward efficient appliances can generate the demand needed to make grid expansions financially viable and help those currently living without electricity gain access to healthier, more productive lives.

Finances

Revenue by donor type

Expenses by region

CLASP collaborates with a global network of partners. In 2025, CLASP channeled nearly half our resources to civil society and energy groups, innovators, academic institutions, and experts — essential partners in changing the way we use energy.

About CLASP

Efficient appliances and equipment are essential drivers of economic growth and a fast, practical energy transition. With over 25 years of expertise and offices on five continents, CLASP collaborates with governments, industry leaders, and other experts to change the way we use energy.

We’re proud of what our team and partners achieved in 2025, driving progress for a better world. In 2026, we remain committed to championing appliance efficiency as a powerful solution for people, prosperity, and planet.

Learn more about CLASP’s worldwide impact.

With temperatures soaring globally due to climate change, India is one of the places on the planet most at risk of extreme heat. Ceiling fans are widely used, with 90% of households relying on fans as their only form of space cooling.

Over a period of three years, CLASP partnered with both the Indian government and private sector to drastically improve the affordability and availability of efficient fans. A major part of the effort was working with small and medium enterprises to build their capacity to produce more efficient fans.

The results have been catalytic. Together, CLASP and our partners have cut energy demand from cooling, while safeguarding jobs and strengthening local supply chains, and making efficient fans more affordable to the people who need them.

A Systems Approach to Efficient Cooling Access

For many households in India, a ceiling fan can turn a space from unbearable to livable, enabling productivity, schoolwork, comfort, and health. With total stock projected to reach 1 billion by 2038, improving fan efficiency represents a major opportunity to cut energy demand. At the beginning of this project, fans accounted for about 40% of residential electricity consumption.

In 2023, CLASP supported India’s Bureau of Energy Efficiency to improve the energy efficiency policy for ceiling fans. The policy enacted a huge shift in the market, making formerly 5-star labeled fans (most efficient) now 1-star (least efficient), and raising the baseline efficiency by over 25%.

Meeting these standards, however, was challenging for medium and small enterprise (MSME) manufacturers, which produced roughly 40% to 50% of fans. Without support, these manufacturers risked losing their market share, which would lead to job losses, a weakened domestic supply chain, and, subsequently, over-reliance on imports to meet cooling demand in India.

Fan manufacturing facility in Kolkata, India

Image credit: CLASP

To prevent this, CLASP worked closely with MSMEs to build their capacity to produce more efficient fans and participate in functions of the policy program, including testing, certification, and technical committees. MSMEs now have a seat at the table in the policy process, further edifying domestic businesses and contributing to long-term policy durability.

CLASP also partnered with Energy Efficient Services Limited, a state-owned energy service company, to develop a bulk procurement initiative for super-efficient fans. The initiative sought to drive down the cost of 5-star, or most efficient, ceiling fans through economies of scale, ensuring they were more available and affordable to a wider range of consumers.

Better Cooling for People, Prosperity & Planet

More efficient cooling supports India’s national climate goals and Thermal Comfort for All agenda. But this initiative also demonstrates that holistic climate action can strengthen businesses, energy security, and benefit regular people.

Our impact in numbers:

Cut 159 Mt CO₂ by 2050 and reduced demand by 218 TWh
Lowered ceiling fan purchase price by over 25%
3x more manufacturers producing the technology
Tripled the number of 5-star labelled, or most efficient fans, available on the market, with production volumes increasing by 63%
65% increase in medium and small enterprise participation in the policy program

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Home to over 280 million people, Indonesia is one of the world’s top 20 emitters of greenhouse gases. With temperatures rising, the government’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits to reducing emissions while continuing to support the nation’s economic growth.

Meeting both of these goals requires a strong focus on air conditioning. With global warming driving temperatures ever higher and the nation’s middle class growing, more Indonesians are buying ACs. By 2050, 85% of households in the country are expected to own ACs. But while this will create important quality-of-life benefits, it also poses risks. Today, low-efficiency ACs dominate the Indonesian market. Without policy intervention or market shifts, increased AC use will result in a significant rise in emissions and electricity usage across the country, jeopardizing the nation’s climate goals and raising consumers’ electricity bills.

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make air conditioners more efficient and affordable is to improve national policies that determine the energy efficiency of appliances produced and sold in the market.

An air conditioner in Indonesia with an energy rating label

CLASP

Setting realistic and effective AC efficiency standards requires rigorous data on air conditioner performance. The Indonesian government, with technical support from CLASP, undertook a recent project to strengthen this evidence base.

We partnered with India’s CEPT University, University of Indonesia and other local universities, government and industry representatives, and certified AC technicians to study one important aspect of air conditioners: the difference in energy consumption between inverter and non-inverter technology.

Most air conditioners fall into these two types. An inverter AC can adjust how much power it uses depending on the cooling needed in the space, using less energy to maintain the right temperature. A non-inverter AC, on the other hand, repeatedly switches on and off to cool the room, which tends to consume more energy.

CLASP studied the energy consumption of these two technologies over a period of six months in three Indonesian cities: Jakarta, Medan, and Bali. In each location, two identical homes with identical bedroom conditions were identified. One home was fitted with an inverter AC and the other with a non-inverter unit, allowing researchers to compare their electricity usage under the same conditions. The study also provides independent evidence on whether inverter ACs can truly deliver electricity savings in Indonesia’s hot, humid climate.

The results showed:

Field tests are consistent with global findings, indicating that inverter ACs consume less electricity than non-inverter units under similar conditions, with Jakarta measurements showing approximately 28% savings during the test period.
The difference in energy use remained steady throughout the testing period, with inverter ACs consistently using less electricity.

Research has also shown that while inverter ACs cost more upfront, their lower electricity usage means households typically recover the extra cost in a few years through reduced electricity bills and continue saving afterward.

By providing empirical data to stakeholders and policymakers in Indonesia and elsewhere, CLASP aims to support stronger efficiency standards for air conditioners. These policies can help bring more efficient models to the market and encourage large-scale production, which can ultimately reduce the upfront cost of high-efficiency ACs, helping more people stay cool.

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Home to over 280 million people, Indonesia is one of the world’s top 20 emitters of greenhouse gases. With temperatures rising, the government’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) commits to reducing emissions while continuing to support the nation’s economic growth.

Meeting both of these goals requires a strong focus on air conditioning. With global warming driving temperatures ever higher and the nation’s middle class growing, more Indonesians are buying ACs. By 2050, 85% of households in the country are expected to own ACs. But while this will create important quality-of-life benefits, it also poses risks. Today, low-efficiency ACs dominate the Indonesian market. Without policy intervention or market shifts, increased AC use will result in a significant rise in emissions and electricity usage across the country, jeopardizing the nation’s climate goals and raising consumers’ electricity bills.

One of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to make air conditioners more efficient and affordable is to improve national policies that determine the energy efficiency of appliances produced and sold in the market.

An air conditioner in Indonesia with an energy rating label

CLASP

Setting realistic and effective AC efficiency standards requires rigorous data on air conditioner performance. The Indonesian government, with technical support from CLASP, undertook a recent project to strengthen this evidence base.

We partnered with India’s CEPT University, University of Indonesia and other local universities, government and industry representatives, and certified AC technicians to study one important aspect of air conditioners: the difference in energy consumption between inverter and non-inverter technology.

Most air conditioners fall into these two types. An inverter AC can adjust how much power it uses depending on the cooling needed in the space, using less energy to maintain the right temperature. A non-inverter AC, on the other hand, repeatedly switches on and off to cool the room, which tends to consume more energy.

CLASP studied the energy consumption of these two technologies over a period of six months in three Indonesian cities: Jakarta, Medan, and Bali. In each location, two identical homes with identical bedroom conditions were identified. One home was fitted with an inverter AC and the other with a non-inverter unit, allowing researchers to compare their electricity usage under the same conditions. The study also provides independent evidence on whether inverter ACs can truly deliver electricity savings in Indonesia’s hot, humid climate.

The results showed:

Field tests are consistent with global findings, indicating that inverter ACs consume less electricity than non-inverter units under similar conditions, with Jakarta measurements showing approximately 28% savings during the test period.
The difference in energy use remained steady throughout the testing period, with inverter ACs consistently using less electricity.

Research has also shown that while inverter ACs cost more upfront, their lower electricity usage means households typically recover the extra cost in a few years through reduced electricity bills and continue saving afterward.

By providing empirical data to stakeholders and policymakers in Indonesia and elsewhere, CLASP aims to support stronger efficiency standards for air conditioners. These policies can help bring more efficient models to the market and encourage large-scale production, which can ultimately reduce the upfront cost of high-efficiency ACs, helping more people stay cool.

CLASP has identified 10 appliances that are critical to fighting climate change and improving people’s lives. Industrial Motors are one of them. They power our economies and consume a significant amount of the world’s industrial electricity demand—27%. The resulting high energy consumption leads to greenhouse gas emissions and can strain power grids.

In Indonesia, the industrial sector consumes nearly 45% of the country’s total energy. Much of this demand comes from equipment powered by electric motors, which is expected to rise as Indonesia’s local manufacturing grows.

Given energy-efficient motors’ ability to consume less electricity when performing a task, and transitioning global motor stock to modern, efficient models would have major environmental and social benefits. Higher efficiency motors offer a win-win solution.

A market assessment to inform motor efficiency policies in Indonesia

Indonesia’s rapid industrial and economic growth is increasing the demand for commercial and industrial equipment. This makes improving the efficiency of motors embedded in pumps, fans, compressors, and conveyors a priority for national policy. However, there is limited information about the country’s current domestic motor market to guide policy development.

CLASP aims to fill this gap through a detailed market assessment of electric motors. The study will quantify the market’s size and composition, including motor sizes, brands, and efficiency levels, of Indonesia’s motor market and provide policymakers with reliable data to develop new national efficiency policies. This assessment is being conducted in coordination with the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources (EBTKE), and key motor brands and associations, including ABB, Siemens, TEKO, and Grundfos.

What Indonesia can gain from more efficient motors

Once in place, motor efficiency policies informed by this assessment could deliver major benefits. Early projections show that by 2060, Indonesia could save ~542 TWh of electricity, enough to power 115 million Indonesian households for one year, and avoid ~460 Mt CO₂ emissions, equal to taking 100 million passenger cars off the road for one year. This will support the country’s 2060 net-zero climate goals and its Nationally Determined Contribution, or national climate goal.

For consumers and businesses, efficient motors mean access to higher-quality products and lower energy bills during the equipment’s lifespan. For the broader economy, efficient motors mean improved productivity, stronger industrial competitiveness, and enhanced energy security.

Ensuring that Indonesia’s industrial motors become more energy efficient is key to building a competitive and sustainable industrial future.

India is facing hotter summers and more frequent heatwaves, making cooling essential for millions of households. About 110 million room air conditioners (ACs) are already in use in the country, which is expected to add another 130–150 million units over the next decade, making it one of the fastest-growing cooling markets in the world. The International Energy Agency (IEA) forecasts a ninefold rise in home AC ownership in the country by 2050. This growth could increase peak power demand by more than 180 gigawatts (GW) by 2035, putting significant strain on the power system.

Yet access to cooling remains highly unequal. Only about 8% of India’s 300 million households own an AC, with higher-income urban families accounting for most of this group. Rural AC ownership remains at around 1%, and the richest 10% of households hold the majority of ACs.

Why efficiency matters

Without stronger energy efficiency standards, the growth in AC ownership will lock in high energy use, drive up emissions, and increase household energy costs. Efficient ACs reduce electricity consumption, lower peak demand on the grid, and make cooling more affordable.

India’s energy labeling program has already helped buyers choose better-performing ACs and has shaped the market toward higher efficiency, but more can be done.

India’s new room AC efficiency standards

To meet the rising cooling demand, the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) in India has approved stringent efficiency standards for room ACs, effective January 2026, with further revisions in 2028, which will put India’s standards at global best levels. The standards establish minimum efficiency levels that appliances must meet, encouraging the use of more energy-efficient models.

By 2030, the new efficiency standards could reduce India’s peak electricity load by 8–10 GW, avoiding the need for more than 20 large coal power plants. Consumers could collectively save $12 billion on electricity bills annually, making cooling more affordable, especially for low and middle-income households. At the same time, they could help the country avoid up to 12 megatons (Mt) of CO₂ emissions annually.

India’s efficiency journey

The BEE has led India’s AC efficiency journey for nearly two decades. It introduced the star labeling system for room air conditioners in 2006 to remove inefficient appliances from the market and enable informed decision-making for consumers who might purchase high-efficiency products. Since then, baseline standards have been periodically tightened, resulting in a 43% energy efficiency improvement in ACs sold in the country. Inverter ACs, which are more energy-efficient, now dominate the domestic market, and companies have adopted a default temperature of 24°C to save energy.

These standards advance the goals of the India Cooling Action Plan (ICAP), which targets a 20–25% reduction in cooling demand by 2037–38 through efficient appliances, sustainable refrigerants, and improved building design.

By promoting efficient cooling, India is managing energy use, strengthening resilience against extreme heat, protecting public health, and creating jobs in manufacturing, testing, and supply chains.

Data-driven support for stronger standards

CLASP supported BEE by providing robust, evidence-based analysis to ensure that the new standards are both ambitious and achievable. It built clear evidence through product tests and an analysis of the Indian market, demonstrating that upgraded standards were both technically achievable and practical. It conducted affordability and feasibility studies and reviewed global pricing trends. It also assessed the financial performance of publicly listed companies and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs). The analysis confirmed that higher efficiency was financially viable. By providing this evidence, CLASP helped ensure that the revised standards are technically sound, cost-effective, and aligned with India’s goals of reducing electricity demand, emissions, and consumer costs.

India’s approach shows that fast-growing economies can expand access to cooling without harming the environment. Higher efficiency will also spur the adoption of next-generation ACs, creating new jobs in manufacturing, design, and testing, and contributing to economic growth.

Low-efficiency, climate-harming room air conditioners are common across the Global South. This is due largely to a practice known as environmental dumping, which raises costs for consumers, strains national electric grids, and jeopardizes climate mitigation targets.

What is environmental dumping?

When appliances that don’t meet the regulatory standards of the countries where they are manufactured are export to countries with lower or no standards, this is considered environmental dumping.

Environmental dumping of room air conditioners is a common practice, resulting in high volumes of low-efficiency, high-global-warming potential (GWP) room air conditioners in countries that lack stringent room AC standards and refrigerant regulations.

This occurs across the Global South, as research by CLASP and the Institute for Governance & Sustainable Development (IGSD) has revealed. Studies from Africa (2020) and Southeast Asia (2023) have confirmed that low-efficiency, high-GWP cooling appliances are prevalent in both regions.

What are the impacts on people & planet?

As temperatures rise around the globe, the demand for cooling appliances is growing rapidly. The number of ACs in use is projected to grow from 1.6 billion units in 2023 to 5.6 billion in 2050, according to the IEA. Despite that, only 15% of the 3.5 billion people living in warm regions have air conditioning. Making cooling more accessible requires overcoming a key barrier: affordability.

The prevalence of low-efficiency room air conditioners in the Global South makes this more difficult to achieve, as these appliances cost consumers more to run.

Low-efficiency, high-GWP room air conditioners also strain electricity systems and lock countries into higher energy use and emissions, slowing progress toward national and global climate goals.

How can environmental dumping be prevented?

Ambitious national appliance efficiency policies are a powerful way to help markets shift toward next-generation technologies that lower electricity costs and cut CO₂ emissions. Complementary government action on obsolete refrigerants can further speed the transition to climate-friendly alternatives.

Still, no single country can tackle environmental dumping or the spread of outdated, high-emission products alone. Addressing these challenges requires shared responsibility and close collaboration among governments, industry, civil society, and international partners.

What is CLASP doing?

To further expand the knowledge base and understand the extent of environmental dumping globally, CLASP and IGSD have partnered with the Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC) and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) to research environmental dumping of room air conditioners across Latin America and the Caribbean.

In addition to assessing the extent of environmental dumping, this upcoming research also highlights how it may contribute to cooling access and affordability challenges in the region, especially for vulnerable populations such as women and low-income households.

CLASP participated in the fourth Modern Energy Cooking Forum (MECF 2025) in New Delhi on 26 September. The event brought together diverse stakeholders to work towards integrating electric cooking (e-cooking) into India’s energy and climate policies.

Efficient cooking advances health, equity, and climate goals

Globally, more than 2 billion people still rely on polluting fuels like wood, charcoal, kerosene, or coal as their main cooking fuel¹. In India, about 54% of households use traditional solid fuels, either as their main source of energy or alongside liquefied petroleum gas, contributing significantly to indoor air pollution². Dependence on solid fuels negatively impacts people’s quality of life. It harms people’s health through exposure to smoke and pollutants, and it also limits productivity and keeps households trapped in a never-ending cycle of labor-intensive chores.

Improving household access to e-cooking helps address these challenges while advancing energy and climate goals. Shifting to cleaner, more efficient electric cooking can help reduce respiratory illness symptoms and other health impacts, save households time and money, while freeing up hours spent on fuel collection and cooking. From a climate perspective, the widespread adoption of e-cooking can reduce emissions from the residential energy sector and contribute to India’s decarbonization goals.

CLASP supports India's shift to clean cooking

At MECF 2025, Neha Dhingra, CLASP’s Director, India, shared CLASP’s approach for accelerating India’s clean cooking transition. The approach focuses on market-shaping activities:

Policy and institutional collaborations: CLASP has a longstanding relationship with the Bureau of Energy Efficiency (BEE) and will continue working with government stakeholders to align policies, standards, and procurement with clean cooking solutions. These collaborations are critical to ensuring that solutions are available and supported by national policies.
Evidence and risk reduction: By providing robust appliance performance data and consumer insights, CLASP helps policymakers, financiers, and companies make informed investments in e-cooking.
Consumer awareness and demand: CLASP will continue supporting campaigns that highlight the tangible benefits of e-cooking, from household savings to improved air quality and safer kitchens.

Photo by Finovista.
Left to right: Sheetal Rastogi, Director and Co-founder of Finovista, Dr. Nick Rousseau, International Liason Manager at MECS Programme, and Neha Dhingra, Director at CLASP.

Photo by Finovista.
Neha Dhingra, Director at CLASP, presents CLASP's approach for scaling clean cooking in India at the Modern Energy Cooking Forum (MECF) 2025 in New Delhi.

Photo by Finovista.
Sumedha Awasthy, Senior Associate at CLASP, showcases CLASP's clean cooking initiatives at MECF 2025.

Photo by Finovista.
Jatin Mathur, Associate at CLASP, speaks in a session on research in clean cooking at MECF 2025.

“Through MECS, we see opportunities for Indian companies to grow in the domestic market and expand into new markets globally. CLASP is excited to help fill gaps where we can, and ensure that together, we accelerate the transition to efficient e-cooking in India and beyond.”

Neha Dhingra
Director, India (CLASP)

With this approach, CLASP aims to ensure that clean cooking appliances are available, but also affordable, trusted, and widely adopted. Through our partnership with MECS and in collaboration with local partners like Finovista, CLASP will provide venture-building support to Indian manufacturers, help identify high-growth opportunities, refine business models, and develop strategic connections with funders and partners.

CLASP’s Sumedha Awasthy (Senior Associate, Clean Energy Access) and Jatin Mathur (Associate, Clean Energy Access) also contributed to a special session on research and innovation in e-cooking, demonstrating how policy, finance, and market-building can speed up the shift. Their presentation highlighted initiatives such as the Global Leap Awards and the Institutional E-Cooking Demo.

The opportunity for India to scale efficient e-cooking

With universal electricity access³ and a strong cooking appliance industry, India is well-positioned to scale domestic adoption and tap into international markets. CLASP is committed to working alongside partners in India and beyond to ensure that affordable, efficient, clean cooking solutions reach households that need it most. By further improving standards and policies, building markets, and implementing consumer-centric approaches, India can turn MECF’s momentum into lasting impact.

About the Modern Energy Cooking Forum (MECF)

MECF is hosted by Finovista and the Modern Energy Cooking Services (MECS) programme. This year’s forum strengthened its role as a key platform driving India’s clean cooking dialogue and strategy since 2022. MECF 2025 was supported by NITI Aayog, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India, Energy Efficiency Services Limited, and the Global Energy Alliance for People and Planet.

Discussions focused on decarbonizing the cooking sector, equity, state-level programs, financing, and demand-side challenges and opportunities to scale up e-cooking. A highlight of the forum was the Innovation Pavilion, where new technologies were showcased through live cooking demonstrations for diverse consumer segments.

^0.International Energy Agency, “Access to Clean Cooking”. https://www.iea.org/reports/sdg7-data-and-projections/access-to-clean-cooking

^1.Modern Energy Cooking Services programme, “The Green Shift in Clean Cooking Fuel in India”, 18 May 2023. https://mecs.org.uk/blog/the-green-shift-in-clean-cooking-fuel-in-india/

^2.International Energy Agency, “Electricity access continues to improve in 2024 – after first global setback in decades”, 5 November 2024. https://www.iea.org/reports/sdg7-data-and-projections/access-to-clean-cooking

In Gujranwala, Pakistan, family‑run motor manufacturers share a common ambition: to produce world‑class motors that meet international efficiency standards.

To support this, CLASP and SAMA Verte’s Industry Accelerator Program is linking Pakistan’s local motor makers with international expertise to upgrade motor designs, improve efficiency, and help the motor industry thrive.

Working with Pakistan Pumps & Electric Motors Manufacturers Association (PPEMMA), and representatives from EMOSAD, a Turkish Motors Association, the Industry Accelerator Program combines decades of local craftsmanship with the latest global technical insights.

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Worker assembling a motor (left), Ali Han Özcan, motor expert from EMOSAD (center), and Fraz Siddiqi, SAMA^Verte (right).
CLASP

The program’s work supporting improved motor testing labs is already helping local engineers to identify energy losses, improve designs, and meet national efficiency standards for motors.

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About CLASP’s Industry Accelerator Program in Pakistan

A collaborative initiative between CLASP and SAMA^Verte, the Industry Accelerator is aimed at transforming Pakistan’s electric motor manufacturing sector. Launched in 2023, the program focuses on enhancing the energy efficiency of locally produced electric motors and modernizing production processes. By providing technical assistance, facilitating international knowledge exchange, and supporting the development of energy-efficiency standards, the Industry Accelerator seeks to reduce energy consumption, lower CO₂ emissions, and strengthen the competitiveness of Pakistan’s motor industry.

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