Room air-conditioners labeling program became mandatory in India from January 2010. The air-conditioners’ level of energy efficiency defines the particular star rating applicable for it.

Bureau of Energy Efficiency announced its first set of efficiency standards and labels for room air conditioners in July 2006. The air conditioner labeling program introduced Minimum Efficiency Performance Standards (MEPS) and comparative labels simultaneously, with levels defined for one to five stars. BEE defined several successive program phases of increasing stringency. Instead of setting a very tough standard and rating plan at the onset of the program, a phased approach has been adopted, wherein the rating plan will be upgraded every two years till an internationally benchmarked energy efficiency level is achieved.

Below tables describe rising levels of room AC efficiency standards. The current efficiency standard of room AC is applicable for the duration of January 2012- December 2013 shown in the middle table.