New Delhi, Feb. 16 -- Buying an air conditioner today isn't just about tonnage or brand loyalty. With longer summers and steadily rising electricity bills, how an AC uses power matters just as much as how well it cools. That's where the inverter vs non-inverter debate comes in. On the surface, both types look identical and promise similar cooling, but their day-to-day behaviour is very different. Inverter ACs adjust their cooling output based on the room's needs, running more steadily instead of constantly switching on and off. Non-inverter ACs work at a fixed speed, cutting out once the set temperature is reached and restarting when the room warms up again. Over time, this stop-start cycle can add noticeably to power consumption. The dif...