Anyone who owns an air conditioner will knows that sinking feeling that comes when your energy bill arrives in the mail. This doesn’t have to be the way! Huge energy bills from your air conditioner are often due to a combination of purchasing the wrong unit, poor maintenance and bad usage habits. Whether you’re looking to install an air conditioner for the first time, or just looking to become more energy efficient, check out our energy saving tips for purchasing and using an air conditioner.
Buy The Right Model
All air conditioners are different. There are a number of varieties available in 100s of different brands, each with their own levels of energy output. Always look out for systems with a high energy star rating as this means they’re more energy efficient. Even if these systems cost more upfront, they’ll save you money on energy bills in the long run!
Set It To The Right Temperature
Using your air conditioner involves a constant battle between comfort and energy efficiency. While we’d all love to sit under a cool air conditioner during those scorching summer days, it’s certainly going to cost you. Each 1° of cooling you go without is saving you money. Try to keep the temperature at 24° to 26° during summer. This will cool you down without using up too much energy.
Only Cool What You Need
Purchase an air-conditioning unit that’s too small and it won’t cool your home properly, too big and it will be using more energy than required! To ensure you get the perfect air conditioning unit for your needs, have a full heat load calculation carried out by your local air conditioning expert. They’ll take into account factors such as ceiling heights, window sizes and insulation levels to ensure your system is the optimal size.
Regular Servicing
Your air conditioner’s filters, coils, and fins will need maintenance every 2 weeks or so if you want your unit to run effectively and efficiently. Neglecting these parts of your unit will cause it to work harder and dramatically increase the rate of wear and tear. Your local Byron Bay air conditioning professional can provide routine maintenance for your convenience.
Energy Saving Features
Before you purchase an air conditioner, always take a close look at the extra features that come with it. Things like sleep timers and energy saving modes can be very handy when it comes to saving money on your power bill.
Close Everything
There’s no use turning your air conditioner on if you’re just going to let all the cool air out. Always make sure your windows and doors are shut and close off any rooms that aren’t being used. You can also lose heat through closed windows, so remember to close your blinds or curtains and trap that beautiful cool air in.
Don’t Run It During The Night
When it comes to saving money on your power bill, it’s all about changing your habits. Running your Byron Bay air conditioner throughout the night might give you a more peaceful sleep, but you’re just throwing money down the drain. If you have trouble sleeping in summer, consider changing to cotton sheets, turning on a fan or (at the very least) use a sleep timer on your air conditioner.
Want to make your home even more energy efficient? Check out these tips:
