As India grapples with extreme temperatures reaching 47 degrees Celsius (116 degrees Fahrenheit), electricity demand surged to an unprecedented 256.1 gigawatts on April 25. The rapid rise in air conditioner usage, which has grown from just 2 million units in 2006 to 15.4 million sold last year, is pressuring the grid. Projections suggest that by 2035, cooling could consume 180 gigawatts of electricity, necessitating a substantial increase in generation capacity. A potential solution lies in switching refrigerants from R32 to propane (R290), which is more efficient and environmentally friendly, requiring only 75% of the electricity for the same cooling effect. This change could significantly lower household costs and reduce peak demand by tens of gigawatts. However, regulatory standards in India restrict the use of propane due to safety concerns, despite its successful application in over 10 million units without major incidents. The slow adoption of propane in air conditioning, while simultaneously promoting it for cooking, raises questions about policy coherence in addressing climate change and energy efficiency.