24/07/2016
Air Conditioning Energy Saving Guide
It has been a cold couple of days in WA and there is more to winter weather come. So here are some tips that will help you keep warm over the cold snap but keep you energy bill down.
• Set your heater or thermostat to between 18 and 20 degrees, as every degree warmer can increase your running costs by up to 10%.
• When you have the heater on, keep the doors shut and windows closed so the warmth stays in the room. Close off areas which you are not using and
keep those zones switched off.
• Close your curtains at night to trap the heat inside and check there are no drafts entering under doors or through cracks.
• Use the air conditioners timer function or Eco function (if available). Set your timer or thermostat to turn off when you leave for the day, and to turn back on a half an hour before you get home. It is more efficient than using your system all day while you are not at home.
• Replace your air conditioner. Using an efficient system will provide many benefits. Current models use approximately 30% less energy than models built ten years ago.
• Shade your condenser unit – condensers in the shade use up to 10% less electricity than those in direct sunlight. Don’t block the condenser unit as restricted air flow will increase electricity use.
• Clean the condenser/evaporator coils and the return air filter at the beginning of each season. Keep your system in a good shape; a dirty filter and coils makes your AC work harder, which uses more electricity.
• Test your ducts for leaks – testing has found that the average home can lose 27% of its heating or cooling from leaking duct work.
• Install a zone system, which will direct the air flow into the rooms you are using and reduce it in the rooms you are not, so you won’t need to heat and cool the entire home which increases unit efficiency and reduces usage costs.
• Raise the thermostat temperature. Each degree below 25°C (when cooling) will increase your energy use by 3-4%
• Make sure nothing is restricting the air flow through the outdoor unit.
• Adjust louvers on your air conditioner so they face downwards for heating as hot air rises.
• Don’t oversize the air conditioner when buying new. When buying a new system, utilise Ford & Doonan’s heat load calculation software to ensure that the unit you purchase is designed specifically for your needs.
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