12 Energy Saving Tips When Using Your Air Conditioner

Receiving a higher energy bill at the end of the quarter can come as a shock. Being consciously aware of how to reduce your energy expenditure helps, so here are 12 useful tips to bring those bills down.

• Colder isn't always better: for efficiency, set temperatures between 24 and 25 degrees. Setting it just one degree warmer than usual can cut cooling costs by around 10 per cent.
• Only cool the rooms people are in, using zoned cooling on a ducted system rather than conditioning the whole home.
• Maintenance is key: clean or replace filters, keep outdoor equipment free of dirt and leaves, and cover the outdoor unit when not in use during cooler months.
• Cover your windows: well-fitted curtains, blinds or shutters can cut summer heat exchange by almost half.
• Lower blinds and close doors of rooms not in use before you leave for the day, to reduce heat build-up for when you get home.
• Shade trees, wall vines and thick shrubs can help keep the walls of your house up to 12 degrees cooler.
• Open windows on both sides of the house in the evening to let a cross-breeze through instead of running the air con.
• Run a fan at night and turn the air conditioner off to help you sleep, at a fraction of the running cost.
• Buy the right size unit for your home: too small and it runs constantly, too big and it short-cycles, causing extra wear.
• Turn off TVs and other heat-producing appliances when not in use, especially in smaller rooms.
• Insulate your ceilings so cool air stays where it's needed rather than escaping.
• Close doors to unused rooms and check vents aren't blocked by furniture, so conditioned air isn't wasted.