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Air-conditioning tips to save this summer!

The best tips to reduce your AC power bill

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Okay, so if you’re in Queensland, you’re probably still feeling the heat.  Let’s be real, QLD weather is hot about 99% of the time, so you may be reliant on your Air-conditioner to get you through those sticky humid days and nights.  Living in cooled luxury can get pretty pricey, especially if the whole family is dying and you’re thinking to yourself “You know what, it’s worth every cent to stop the kids going feral!” Except it happens Every. Single. Night.  *Facepalm*

The average 3-person home spends a summer season estimate of $450 with a split-system air-conditioning and an estimate of $520 with a portable.  So we’ve comprised some of our most valuable tips to help reduce that bill of yours!

AVOID DIRECT SUNLIGHT

Have rooms during the day that aren’t being used and have the sun directly hitting them? Keep the curtains or blinds closed during the day and open them in the evening to get air circulating.  It’s been shown that keeping the sun out during the day can reduce your house temperature by 3 – 4 degrees.

USE A FAN

These bad boys are cheap to run and should be your initial cooling go-to.  They are super energy efficient and can drastically reduce the temperature of a room.  Not only that by they are lowest in greenhouse gas emissions and can produce white noise to help concentration and sleep onset. If you’re buying a new fan, try to research energy efficiency as they can range from 54W to 100W.

CLEAN YOUR AIRCON FILTER

Not everyone knows about this one, or it can be easily forgotten about when you’re doing a billion other things in your day-to-day routine.  Nevertheless, it’s a biggy and can significantly reduce how much energy your air-conditioning

utilises to run.  The more the filter is congested with dirt, dust and all the other fun stuff it filters on the daily, the harder it will run.  You may be DOUBLING your air-conditioning energy consumption, so try and clean the filter every 2 – 3 months for optimal performance.

CHOOSE THE RIGHT TEMPERATURE

25 degrees is the most economic temperature to keep your A/C running at, each degree cooler can increase energy consumption by a whopping 10%!  If your home is excessively hot and uncomfortable, cool the room down on a lower temp for the first 30 mins and then change it to 25 degrees thereafter.  Make sure all your doors and windows are closed to keep the temperature regulated.

TURN THE AIR-CONDITIONER OFF

If you’re not home, don’t leave your air-conditioning running, it’s simply a waste of money! 2.3 million Australians leave their aircon running when their absent, this is not only a waste of your money, but it’s estimated to cost the nation $222 million per annum… now think of how much-wasted energy is contributing to our environmental issues. Think of this tip as a giant win/win.

CHECK YOUR ENERGY RATING

The better the energy rating, the less electricity your aircon will use, which means more money in your pocket! It may cost a little more to initially purchase an energy efficient aircon, however, it’ll be an investment that you won’t regret.  The average life of an aircon is 15 years, the difference could save you thousands, especially if it’s well kept.

AVOID PORTABLE AIR CONDITIONERS

Portable air conditioners aren’t the most energy efficient compared to split-system, however, if you’re in a situation where aircon installation isn’t an option, it’s important to do your research for the best energy consumption.  As of

2018

there are no Australian Standards, no Minimum Energy Performance Standards (MEPS) and don’t carry star rating labels. Get a venting kit to avoid extra heat in the room opposing the cool air.  Don’t use an extension cord, their power hungry, can void your warranty and are at risk of over-heating.

MAKE THE MOST OF TIMERS

This is a great way to

utilise

the aircon only when you need it.  Always rushing out the door and forgetting about the aircon? Or you don’t feel like you need the A/C the whole night? This is the perfect way to reduce your bill.

CENTRAL COOLING ZONING

If you have a ducted air-conditioning system, then it’s important to program the zoning room options to be utilised only when the room is occupied. This will save you a great deal in your energy consumption, better yet, add a timer to your rooms if you have a regular schedule.

ADJUST THE TEMPERATURE DEPENDING ON THE SEASON

Set your thermostat between 24-26°C in summer and 18-20°C in winter.

Check out how to further save on electricity by learning and using tariffs to your advantage!

Click Here to find QLD Governments top tips for energy saving in your house!

Follow these top tips and you’ll be sure to save significantly on your next power bill.  Still have questions? Contact our friendly team for advice on 07 3279 5058.

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