Canva
From baking hot summers (and the odd autumn day) to crisp, chilly winters, Australia’s range of climates has made air conditioners an important feature of our homes. According to the government’s Cold Hard Facts report, 70 per cent of households had some form of air conditioning in 2010 – and the number of new sales grows every year. But with the cost of power bills also rising, finding an air conditioner with the best possible energy efficient features can be just as important as its cooling and heating abilities.
“Air conditioners require a lot of energy to run and it’s been estimated that an aircon can be responsible for up to 40 per cent of a household energy bill,” Kate Browne, Compare Club Head of Research and Insights, told Better Homes & Gardens.
“Energy prices have been on the climb for several years now and according to Compare Club is the number one most stressful bill in Australia and has been for two years now.”
The good news is an energy efficient air conditioner can help you save on cooling and heating your home. And if you’re in New South Wales, you could even save on buying one thanks to the state government’s household energy savings upgrades incentive.
So here, we’ve picked out some of the best energy efficient air conditioner units in Australia based on their energy star ratings, different modes and other features. Where possible, we’ve also included customer reviews to help you get a sense of how they work in actual households.
2025’s top energy efficient air conditioners
- Mitsubishi Bronte 7.1kW Split System Air Conditioner, $2089 (usually $2400), Wholesale Air Conditioning (here’s why)
- Fujitsu 6.0/7.2kW Split Cycle Lifestyle Next Air Conditioner, $2099, Betta (here’s why)
- Kogan SmarterHome 3.5kW Inverter Split System Air Conditioner from $549, Kogan (here’s why)
The best energy efficient air conditioner models in Australia
01
Mitsubishi Bronte 7.1kW Split System Air Conditioner
from $2089 (usually $2400), Wholesale Air Conditioning
Best for: heating or cooling large rooms
Mitsubishi is considered one of the best fridge brands, so it makes sense that it would also design great air conditioner units. The Bronte split system model has advanced fan blade technology for efficient airflow reaching up to 18 metres. So it’s suited to large rooms and open plan spaces in most homes (up to 60 square metres or a bit more). It also includes plenty of convenient timer and scheduling functions.
“Great product! So far,TERRIFIC. We have it in a 7×4 m lounge room, that also takes in a hallway of 7x 1m, so that’s 35 [square metres],” one customer shared in a 5-star review for this model on ProductReview. They added that the air conditioner cools the space “super quick, and we get 42deg outside here!”
Key features:
- 3 star energy rating for cooling
- 3 star energy rating for heating
- Clean Air Technology designed to neutralise fine smoke particles, allergens, odours, bacteria and viruses
- Optional wifi control with adaptor
- 5 year manufacturer’s warranty
02
Fujitsu 6.0/7.2kW Split Cycle Lifestyle Next Air Conditioner
from $2099, Betta
Best for: smart air conditioning features
This Fujitsu air conditioner combines energy efficient features with wifi connectivity and smart tools, including a Human Sensor Control that allows it to adjust based on how many people are in the room. You can also program it to come on automatically if the room reaches a particular temperature, and manage everything from an app.
“Size was recommended by the installer (I wanted to go bigger) but has worked out perfect even when running at around 50% capacity. The phone App is great being able to turn on remotely. Found to be very efficient. Happy,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on Betta. While it only has three reviews, all of them are 5-stars.
Key features:
- 4-4.5 star energy rating for cooling depending on climate
- 2-3 star energy rating for heating
- Human Sensor Control and Smart Climate Control to adapt based on room conditions
- Personalised scheduling
- App for remote management
- 5 year manufacturer’s warranty
Available at:
- $2300 from Appliances Online
03
Kogan SmarterHome 3.5kW Inverter Split System Air Conditioner
from $549, Kogan
Best for: affordable air conditioning unit
Kogan’s SmarterHome air conditioner range are designed to be energy efficient and budget-friendly, with this model coming down to just $529 for Kogan First members. It has an energy-saving inverter motor and works as a cooler, heater, dehumidifier or fan depending on what you need. The output capacity (3.5kW) means it’s suited to small living rooms, large bedrooms or spaces up to 40 square metres according to research from Choice.
It also has a 4.8 star average from over 20 customers on Kogan, with one happy customer saying the “split system works well” and another summing it up by saying: “Fast reliable service. Works great.”
Key features:
- 4.5 star energy rating for cooling
- 2.5 star energy rating for heating
- SmarterHome app for on-the-go control
- Functions include air conditioning, heating, fan and dehumidifier
- 5 year manufacturer’s warranty
Also available at:
- $549 from Dick Smith
04
Daikin Zena 3.5kW Reverse Cycle (White Hairline)
from $1489, Wholesale Air Conditioning
Best for: stylish design
This Daikin air conditioner is both stylish and energy efficient, with a sleek design that can blend in with most interiors and a choice of colourways (White Hairline or Black Wood). It even includes an intelligent infrared sensor to detect humans – and if there’s no one in the room for 20 minutes it will automatically enable energy-saving operations.
Key features:
- 3.5 star energy rating for cooling
- 2.5 star energy rating for heating
- Ultra compact design (295mm high, 798mm wide and 185mm deep)
- Built-in wifi
- 5 year manufacturer’s warranty
05
Hisense C3.5kW H4kW Reverse Cycle Split System
from $999, The Good Guys
Best for: easy maintenance
This Hisense reverse cycle air conditioner has an impressive 5-star cooling rating and a 3-star heating rating, as well as patented self-clean technology reduces the need for cleaning and maintenance. Its also designed to be quiet, with noise levels ranging from 25-39 decibels (dBA) inside and 60 dBA outside. To put that in perspective, 30 dBA is around what you’d hear inside a library and 60 dBA is the same as normal conversation according to the Safe Environments website .
“Great air-conditioner very happy with the features,” one customer shared in a 5-star review on The Good Guys, where it has a 4.7 star average from a handful of reviews. Another customer from who bought a second unit also shared “The installer for GG on the central coast was a lovely fella and said these were easy to install.”
Key features:
- 5 star energy rating for cooling
- 3 star energy rating for heating
- Smart self cleaning technology
- Built-in wifi
- 5 year manufacturer’s warranty
06
Carrier 2.6kW Indigo Reverse Cycle Inverter Split System Air Conditioner
from $921 (usually $1465), Appliances Online
Best for: extreme temperatures
The Carrier Split System Air Conditioner Indigo series is designed to deliver reliable heating and cooling for extreme outside temperatures ranging from -15°C to 50°C. It also includes intelligent features, such as “Follow Me”, which uses a built-in sensor in the remote to adjust the temperature based on your location in the room. Plus self-cleaning mechanisms and the ability to reverse the outdoor fan’s direction to remove dust and sand, keeping the compressor clean and enhancing system longevity.
While there were no customer reviews when we checked, according to Appliances Online, “this product falls within the top 20% (or next closest percentage interval) of the most energy efficient air conditioners on our website for both heating and cooling across all climates based on publicly available data from the Equipment Energy Efficiency Program.”
Key features:
- 6 star energy rating average for cooling
- 3.5 star energy rating average for heating
- Smart self cleaning technology
- Built-in wifi
- 7 year manufacturer’s warranty
What to look for in a new air conditioner
“Look for a unit that is the right size for your house – so it’s not overworking or so big you are using more power than you need to,” Compare Club’s Kate Browne said.
“Ducted aircon is generally more expensive but can cool all rooms – having a zoning setting on ducted can help too with only cooling the rooms you need.”
For split cycle air conditioners, which are typically considered among the most energy efficient, talk to the installer about what size is right for your space. As a basic guide, models with a capacity between 2.5kW and 5kW are usually suitable for a small lounge room or a bedroom with an ensuite. But installers and retailers can help you find the right size for your space.
What about government incentives?
If you’re interested in getting a government discount, rebate or other incentive when you install or upgrade your air conditioning system, you’ll typically need to go through an approved installer. This includes for the current NSW government incentive.
“If you’re interested in installing a new air conditioner and taking advantage of this discount, you will need to work with an installer providing this incentive,” the NSW energy website said. They recommend getting quotes from a few installers to find the best deal for you.
Four tips to keep an energy efficient air conditioner running smoothly
- Get it serviced regularly. “Cleaning and having your aircon serviced will ensure it’s being run optimally – once a year is ideal,” Kate said. Some models may have instructions in the manual for doing maintenance. Otherwise, you could contact a professional for more detailed servicing.
- Be conservative with temperatures. According to the CSIRO, the energy used by an air conditioner increases by 5 to 10% for each 1 degree you lower the temperature. They state “the most energy efficient action is to set the temperature to the highest value that’s still comfortable” for cooling. You could take a similar approach for heating by setting the temperature at the lowest value that’s still comfortable.
- Invest in more insulation. Adding insulation to your home helps keep the inside temperature more stable. Kate Browne said to make sure “that doors and windows are shut and any drafts under doors are closed up” before using the air conditioner. Closing curtains or blinds, or larger renovations that include wall, floor and ceiling insulation make a difference too.
- Use other settings and appliances to help with cooling. “Running your ceiling fans can help keep things feeling cooler too in tandem with the aircon If you are in a humid place,” Kate said. While a ‘dry’ or ‘dehumidifier’ setting “can make things feel a lot cooler and uses a lot less energy”.
Other ways to save on air conditioner costs
“First thing’s first – ensure you are on the best possible deal for energy,” Kate said, adding that “no one should be paying more for energy than they should be.”
She also said that Compare Club research has found people in NSW, Victoria and south east Queensland can save close to $300 a year on average “and in some cases far, far more”.
“There are rebates for Commonwealth Concession card holders, low income households, families (subject to their household income), people with certain health needs and more. Research conducted last year showed that Australian’s are leaving millions of dollars worth of rebates on the table simply because they aren’t aware they are eligible,” she said.
“One of the best ways to check is via your State or Territory website – and your energy retailer can then set up the rebate. We’ve calculated that concession holders – combined with comparing and switching energy retails can save closer to $700 dollars a year.”
How we selected the best air conditioners on this list
The Better Homes & Gardens team have looked at a wide range of split cycle air conditioners to develop a clear set of criteria for our top picks, including the Greenhouse & Energy Minimum Standards Regulator list of over 300 models. We also regularly review the air conditioners on the market, then narrow it down to ones available with our partners and consider the following essential criteria:
- Performance and performance-related features
- Efficiency
- Warranty coverage and maintenance
- Design and size
- Reviews, including our own hands-on experiences when possible
- Other notable features or elements
We also consider different price-points, sales and availability of stock to help ensure you can get the air conditioner you want.
Related stories
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
Native ad body.
