04 Jan 5 tips to keep your energy bill within budget this summer

Did you know that with every 1°C change in a thermostat setting on your air conditioner, it’s estimated that your heating or cooling bill rises by around 10%!

So in the midst of a very hot, smoky summer, your air conditioner needs to be running to help keep your sanity and your family comfortable. But with conditions like this, your energy bills could skyrocket. So here are some timely reminders:

1. Remember to close the door

Air conditioners work most efficiently when in closed spaces. So it’s best to position your device far away from the front door and away from windows where sunlight regularly enters. This will ensure that the cool air continues to circulate throughout the house without uncontrolled amounts of heat entering. Sunlight streaming in through the windows raises the temperature of a room so it’s a good idea to invest in some light blocking curtains or shade trees for outside windows. A door ‘snake’ to keep the hot air out is another great cost effective option.

2. Only cool the rooms you use

Ensuring you have the appropriate home cooling system type is a vital step in minimising energy wastage this summer season. Low-cost and easy to install wall-mounted split systems are a fantastic option for cooling commonly used spaces, such as the living room or bedroom, rather than paying to cool the whole home. This is a much more efficient way of keeping cool as compared to, for example, full-home cooling via multi-split or ducted systems.

There are also minimal, stylish touches that you can add to a room to create a fresh feeling. Such as packing away the fuzzy wooly throws and pillows and replacing with cool colours, such as blue or white based ones over the summer months.

3. The right temperature

With Australians’ concern around the cost of energy increasing, it makes sense for us to take a few simple steps to keep electricity bills as low as possible. Pay attention to your temperature settings. This can be a cause of many a family argument. So if you’re battling for control of the temperature gauge, remind your home companions that for every 1°C change in a thermostat setting, it’s estimated that our heating or cooling bill rises by around 10%

4. Regular system maintenance

Regular maintenance will improve the performance and extend the life of your existing home air conditioning system. To ensure your system is operating with maximum efficiency, clean your unit as instructed by the manufacturer and have it serviced regularly.

As a general rule of thumb the more a fan runs and the dirtier the conditions (such as a smokey atmosphere) the more often the filters require cleaning. However; humidity can also play a role because the more moisture in the air, the more dust can adhere to the filter, fan blade and indoor coil. This will reduce the amount of air that the fan moves. The less air the fan moves means that the unit can go into fault or cause the system to run at a reduced capacity.

5. Selecting the right rooms

Attempting to cool your whole abode will see energy bill costs spike. So it’s best to position the air conditioner in between the rooms where you spend the most amount of time. Depending on your lifestyle, this could be anywhere from the living room to the kitchen, with the bedroom being a popular choice for a cool and peaceful night’s sleep. The air conditioner should ideally sit in a shaded area of the selected room, such as in a corner that receives little sunlight and is away from other devices.

Information provided by Atesh Mani, Mitsubishi Electric Australia Air Conditioning National Product Manager