Air conditioning is an essential appliance in Australian homes. It can provide relief during hot summers and warmth in cool winters.
Depending on the climate zone you reside in, and how you use your air conditioner, heating and cooling can account for 20% to 50% of energy used in Australian homes.
Being smart with how you use your air conditioner can ensure your family are comfortable while also conserving energy.
Set the temperature to 24+ degrees
One of the biggest influences on how much energy an air conditioner uses is the temperature it is set to.
General advice is to set your air conditioner to 24-26 degrees during the day and leave it set at that temperature. Each degree below 24 degrees can consume an extra 10% of energy.
During a heatwave or periods of higher temperatures, aim for a temperature difference of 8 degrees (no more than 11 degrees) between the air conditioning setting and outside temperature. This will reduce the strain on the air conditioning system and help ensure efficient operation.
Restrain from lowering the temperature
Upon returning home on a hot day, it can be tempting to lower the temperature of your air conditioner to cool the room quicker. Lowering the temperature won’t cool a room quicker and the unit will need to work harder / use more energy to achieve the set temperature.
To help cool a room quicker, use a high-speed fan along with the air conditioner at its normal temperature. Running a fan on its highest setting will circulate air more quickly and will help lower the room temperature quicker.
Carry out regular cleaning and servicing
In addition to cooling the home and lowering humidity, air conditioners are designed to filter and circulate the air in the home. Common indoor pollutants filtered by an air conditioner include dust, pollen, mould spores, smoke, particles from cooking, and any outdoor pollutants that have made their way into the home.
If you live in a home with open living spaces, you may find that particles from cooking results in your air conditioner requiring more frequent servicing (compared to those who don’t have open living spaces).
A dirty and neglected system will struggle to cool a space effectively, meaning it won't perform to its full capacity. Servicing ensures it continues to run at its optimum.
Servicing and cleaning frequency really depend on how often the system is used and the quality of the air in the home.
A good rule of thumb is check and clean air filters every three months to maintain airflow and efficiency. Having a professional service every 1-2 years will help keep the system running optimally.
Compliment the air conditioner with fans
Fans don’t cool a room; they help circulate the air and cool the skin on our bodies. Using a fan, particularly a ceiling fan, helps the air conditioner circulate the air and compliments it in lowering our body temperature.
Use dry mode when using the air conditioner overnight
Along with the temperature, the frequency and duration of using air conditioning can have a significant impact on your bill.
In the summer months, evenings can be hot and humid. Customers who use air conditioning overnight will naturally have higher usage than those who don’t.
If you do need to run your air conditioner overnight, consider using dry mode. Dry mode is designed to remove moisture from the air and uses less energy than cooling mode. Using a fan on a low setting will help keep the room cooler.
When its hot outside, turn up the heat inside
During heatwaves, or when its hotter than usual, gradually increase the temperature of your air conditioner.
An 8-degree difference (maximum 11 degree difference) is recommended as an optimal temperature difference between the indoor and outdoor air temperature.
The larger the difference between your desired inside temperature and current outdoor temperature, the more energy the system uses.