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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

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How to keep your house naturally cool this summer

How to keep your house naturally cool this summer

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  1. Home
  2. Finance

How to save money on your aircon costs this summer

According to an energy expert. - by Laura Barry
  • 09 Nov 2018
How to save money on your aircon costs this summer

Comparison website finder.com.au conducted a survey of 2013 people that showed around one in four household leave the air-conditioning running when no one is home. Applied nationally, it works out to be the equivalent of 2.3 million Australian households running aircon when they don’t need it. Furthermore, the survey established that this aircon wastage is collectively costing Australian households $222 million each year.

Typically, most people set their aircon to 22 degrees Celsius, but if these settings were changed, you could save yourself up to $187 each summer.

“Aussies can reduce their cooling costs by 30% if they simply drop the temperature of their thermostat to 25 degrees,” says Graham Cooke, energy expert at Finder.com.au.  “You don’t need to blast your aircon to the point where your home feels like Antarctica.”

Graham says Australian households forget that keeping the aircon set to an appropriate temperature, and only running it when you’re home, will save money. “Aussies are leaving their aircon on for almost an hour each day when they’re not even home. It’s costing them around $100 over summer and it’s money they could keep in their pockets.”

air-conditioning unit on blue wall
Getty

So, what are the optimum settings for aircon?

“Research shows that the perfect temperature for your body to feel comfortable is around 25 degrees. Anything lower and you’re simply cooling beyond comfort,” says Graham. “Although setting the fan level to low will use slightly less electricity, it does reduce the efficiency and cooling capacity of your aircon.”

“The only time you really need to set your fan speed on low is during humid weather.”

Is there a particular time of the day that is most expensive or cheapest to run aircon?

“The time of day you use your aircon doesn’t generally impact the cost,”
 says Graham. “It all depends on what kind of electricity tariff you are on. If you’re being charged for peak and off-peak use that can impact how much you pay at certain times of the day, and might influence your cooling habits.”

hand holding remote control to aircon unit
Getty

What are other ways families could try to stay cool for lower costs?

“Don’t completely disregard your fan just yet. If you use it in tandem with your aircon it’ll circulate the cooler air around the room. You can also position it by a window later at night so that it draws in a night breeze,” says Graham. “By keeping your blinds closed during the day, you’ll shut out the hot summer sun and keep your room cool.”

You might also like:

This is what the Australian dream home looks like in 2018

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  • Finance
  • Better Life
Laura Barry
Laura Barry
Laura Barry is a writer, bookworm and interior design enthusiast with a love for reporting on all things homes, travel and lifestyle. When not tapping away at her keyboard, Laura can be found making endless cups of tea or perusing the shelves of Sydney’s many bookstores.

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YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR
Watch 6:32

YOU’LL NEED A WEDGE TO HANG THAT DOOR

{headline}

{headline}

How to keep your house naturally cool this summer

How to keep your house naturally cool this summer

How to leave out water for wildlife without attracting mozzies

How to leave out water for wildlife without attracting mozzies

8 of the best summer sheet sets for hot sleepers and sticky nights

8 of the best summer sheet sets for hot sleepers and sticky nights

7 of the best beach towels

7 of the best beach towels

{headline}

{headline}

10 of the best beach shelters to keep you sun safe this summer

10 of the best beach shelters to keep you sun safe this summer

9 of the best ice cream machines to get you through summer

9 of the best ice cream machines to get you through summer

7 of the best portables pools

7 of the best portables pools

{headline}

{headline}

7 of the best slip and slides for summer

7 of the best slip and slides for summer

10 of the best drink bottles to keep you cool this summer

10 of the best drink bottles to keep you cool this summer

Charlie Albone’s top tips for planting in summer

Charlie Albone’s top tips for planting in summer

 This is the $10 portable fan you can wear this summer

This is the $10 portable fan you can wear this summer

This is Australia's best holiday home for 2020

This is Australia's best holiday home for 2020

7 must-have buys from Big W’s new summer collection

7 must-have buys from Big W’s new summer collection

How to have a holiday at home this summer

How to have a holiday at home this summer

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