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Simple Things You Can Do To Reduce Your Cooling Costs This Summer - December 2019
Turning on the air conditioner is one expensive way of cooling your home during a long hot summer. To help you enjoy your air conditioner or to just keep your home naturally cooler, follow these few simple steps and watch the savings mount up. All of these things can be done before you even turn the air conditioner on.
First, when choosing appliances most have been energy rated. Remember to look for the energy rating label: the more stars the more energy efficient. And that means more savings to you in the long run!
Insulate your ceilings, and, if possible, your walls. Ceiling insulation can save 20% on summer cooling energy, and 25% on winter heating.
Covering your windows with heavy weight, tight fitting curtains hung from closed pelmets can reduce heat invasion of your home. Closing the drapes before the sun hits the windows will keep your home much cooler.
Reduce draughts under doors, up chimneys, and through gaps around doors and windows. Remember it's not only cold air that comes in, a good northerly can blow a lot of hot air in under a door.
In summer, cover north and west facing windows with exterior shading, such as canvas awnings. Plant evergreen trees on the western side of your house to provide shade on hot summer afternoons. Plant deciduous trees on the north side to shade against the summer sun.
Reverse-cycle air conditioning is 300–600% efficient, which means that it can take one unit of electrical energy and turn it into 3 to 6 times as much heating or cooling energy. (https://www.energy.gov.au)
On really hot days, turn on your reverse cycle air conditioner about an hour before the hottest part of the day, so it won't have to work as hard to remove the build-up of heat from your room.
Try not to set your reverse cycle air conditioner's thermostat any lower than 25°C. Each degree lower can add 5-10% to running costs.
Regularly clean and check the coils at the back of the reverse cycle air conditioner to keep them free of dust and fluff to ensure it runs efficiently
And lastly, remember to dress appropriately – if you need long sleeves in summer your air conditioning is set too high!
First, when choosing appliances most have been energy rated. Remember to look for the energy rating label: the more stars the more energy efficient. And that means more savings to you in the long run!
Insulate your ceilings, and, if possible, your walls. Ceiling insulation can save 20% on summer cooling energy, and 25% on winter heating.
Covering your windows with heavy weight, tight fitting curtains hung from closed pelmets can reduce heat invasion of your home. Closing the drapes before the sun hits the windows will keep your home much cooler.
Reduce draughts under doors, up chimneys, and through gaps around doors and windows. Remember it's not only cold air that comes in, a good northerly can blow a lot of hot air in under a door.
In summer, cover north and west facing windows with exterior shading, such as canvas awnings. Plant evergreen trees on the western side of your house to provide shade on hot summer afternoons. Plant deciduous trees on the north side to shade against the summer sun.
Reverse-cycle air conditioning is 300–600% efficient, which means that it can take one unit of electrical energy and turn it into 3 to 6 times as much heating or cooling energy. (https://www.energy.gov.au)
On really hot days, turn on your reverse cycle air conditioner about an hour before the hottest part of the day, so it won't have to work as hard to remove the build-up of heat from your room.
Try not to set your reverse cycle air conditioner's thermostat any lower than 25°C. Each degree lower can add 5-10% to running costs.
Regularly clean and check the coils at the back of the reverse cycle air conditioner to keep them free of dust and fluff to ensure it runs efficiently
And lastly, remember to dress appropriately – if you need long sleeves in summer your air conditioning is set too high!