Energy-saving tips for the home
Energy Efficiency at Home: Practical Tips for Air Conditioning, Lighting and Appliances
Simple, practical ways to cut your air conditioning running costs – plus a few easy wins for lighting and appliances around the rest of the house.
Why it matters
How to Make It Through Summer for Less
Winter doesn't last forever, and it's only a matter of time before Brisbane is back in the middle of another scorching heatwave. Nobody wants to be stuck with an air conditioner that isn't cutting it – or one that's overworking, wasting energy and costing a small fortune in power bills.
So how can you make it through summer comfortably, for less money and less fuss?
By reducing the amount of energy that your air conditioning unit requires to cool your house, you effectively reduce the amount you pay for the electricity that powers it.
With that in mind, we've put together some of our best tips so you can achieve economical air conditioning in the Queensland heat this year – plus a few ways to save energy well beyond the air conditioner.
Choosing and running the right system
Start With the Right Air Conditioner
1. Purchase an Energy Efficient Air Conditioner
Replacing, buying and installing a new air conditioner is an expensive process. However, in most cases you'll find it cheaper in the long run to invest in quality and the most energy efficient option you can afford – check the official Energy Rating site to compare star ratings. This is especially true in Brisbane heatwaves, when your unit is working incredibly hard. It may also be more cost effective to completely replace an old, inefficient air conditioning system rather than constantly repairing it or buying an additional unit. Check out our blog on air conditioning brands to see what we recommend here at Triforce.
From April 2020, the Government introduced new zoned air conditioner energy ratings depending on the climate you live in. Here in Brisbane, Queensland, that means focusing on the "hot" zone ratings.
It's also important to make sure you purchase the correctly sized unit. Undersized units have to work harder to heat or cool a room and may never reach or maintain your preferred temperature. Oversized units are typically less energy efficient and cost more upfront as well. Let us help you choose the correct unit for your home.
2. PeakSmart Devices
Queensland PeakSmart air conditioners receive signals from the Energex network when it's experiencing unusually high demand. The signal tells the air conditioner to drop into an energy efficient mode, similar to an economy setting. This helps save on bills, reduce overall energy costs across the state, and helps the environment.
Brisbane PeakSmart events only occur a few times a year, for a couple of hours each time, but they make a real difference to the Brisbane and Queensland network. You can buy a new PeakSmart-enabled air conditioner or, in some cases, add a signal receiver to your existing unit. Energex also offers a cashback reward for installing eligible PeakSmart-enabled air conditioning – the current reward amount and eligibility criteria are published on the Energex PeakSmart rewards page.
Everyday habits that add up
Get Your Settings and Timing Right
3. Setting Your Air Conditioner's Temperature
Did you know that every degree of extra cooling may increase your energy consumption by approximately 5–10%? Now imagine the potential savings when you set your air conditioner to a temperature that's comfortable and also promotes maximum energy efficiency.
Energex suggests setting your air conditioner to an energy-efficient 24°C in summer. Seal gaps and close doors, windows and curtains to cool rooms quicker and keep them comfortable for longer. Resist the temptation to adjust the unit to its lowest setting – you might think this will cool your home faster, but selecting a temperature of 24 to 27°C will cool you down just as quickly as setting it to 17°C.
Remember, the temperature you set is humidity-free – it's cooler than you think.
Most modern air conditioning units have an inbuilt smart thermostat that allows the unit to make intelligent decisions on how much energy to use. They also account for variables such as time of day, humidity and the number of people in the room – just another reason to invest in a quality new unit.
However, if you have an older unit, you can still purchase and install a smart thermostat to maximise efficiency and save money on your bills.
4. Use Your Timers
If your air conditioning unit comes with a timer, get creative with it and save some money off your electricity bill. Set it to switch off around the time you typically wake up or leave the house, and set it to turn on half an hour before you're due home so you walk into a cool space instead of madly turning the temperature down thinking it will cool faster.
If you can sleep comfortably without it running all night, set the timer to power off when you go to bed and use a ceiling fan to keep circulating the cooled air and reduce humidity. As the sun goes down in the evening, you may also not need the air conditioner running – a ceiling fan can do the job well, especially if the room has already been significantly cooled.
Always use economy and automatic modes when possible so the air conditioner can help itself run more effectively.
Maintenance and money
Look After Your Unit and Your Energy Plan
5. Look After Your Air Conditioner
If your air conditioning system is more than a year old, it's time for a deep clean to improve energy efficiency and make sure you're breathing in healthier air. It's best to book in a professional air conditioning service with a Brisbane expert like Triforce to come and do it all for you. We then test your unit afterward to make sure it's in tip-top shape.
In between services it's important that you:
- Follow manufacturer instructions on how to clean your air conditioner filter – regular dust build-up can reduce airflow by up to 1% per week.
- Keep your outdoor unit shaded from the sun, or install it on the shadier side of the home – this can improve efficiency by 5–10%.
- Always make sure your outdoor unit is free of leaves and debris. If it's looking dirty, give the radiator (the fan bit) a light wash with some water from the hose to help improve the efficiency of the outdoor unit.
Working with Triforce to service your unit is simple and straightforward. We come over, assess and test your unit, give it some much-needed TLC and a deep clean with our high pressure system, then retest to make sure it's running at maximum efficiency.
6. Re-Evaluate Your Energy Supplier
Are you paying too much for your electricity in general? There is only one place to go to properly compare and contrast energy companies: Energy Made Easy.
Avoid other energy comparison sites – companies pay to be listed on some of them, and pay to be ranked in a certain order.
Energy Made Easy is a non-biased government site in which every energy company that operates in New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania or the Australian Capital Territory is required by law to provide data for every plan it makes available to customers – including plans with special conditions you'd need to meet to take them up.
It's reliable and can save you a lot of money – no gimmicks. Just make sure you compare and contrast properly and look at every single fee.
Working smarter, not harder
Manage Heat and Airflow Around Your Home
7. Block Out the Heat
Keep your house as cool as possible throughout the day. Why? Air conditioning units work by continually pulling hot air out of a room, recycling it to make cool air, and then pumping it back into your home. So the more heat that's already stored in your home, the more energy your air conditioner has to use to cool the room.
In Brisbane and Queensland, our scorching and intense summer sun coming through the windows can be a big contributor to rising room temperatures. Our gorgeous sun is also part of why we choose to live here, and there's nothing better than natural light in your home – so invest in some light-blocking shades or curtains for the main windows contributing to mass sunlight and keep them drawn during the day, or at least at times of peak sunlight. When you leave the home for work, keep them all drawn.
8. Keep Heat-Generating Appliances Away From Your Air Conditioning Unit
While many people are great at reducing the amount of heat coming into their home or office, they often don't think about the heat generated inside the home by common appliances such as fridges, irons, dryers, washing machines and steam mops. Since heat increases the amount of energy required to cool a room, the best thing to do is keep it to a minimum and NOT install your unit near these appliances.
These appliances can also create an "impression" of hot air to an air conditioner if installed nearby. This leads to inaccurate temperature readings of the room and triggers your air conditioning unit's thermostat to use unnecessary energy trying to cool the room even further.
9. Get a Ceiling Fan to Help Air Conditioning Flow
Ceiling fans are underrated in most Brisbane homes. They are very cheap to run and take enormous pressure off air conditioners by encouraging the circulation of cool air. In fact, with a fan your rooms will become cooler much quicker and stay that way for longer periods of time – allowing your air conditioner to sit back and relax. Fans also help circulate cool air to reach the further parts of the home, taking even more pressure off the AC.
It's important that you buy good quality fans that are going to do the job properly. There's no point going for cheap fans that aren't suited to the size of your room or that have inadequate blades – they simply won't get the job done and you'll have wasted your money.
Beyond the air conditioner
Energy Efficiency Beyond Air Conditioning
Air conditioning is usually the biggest single energy user in a Queensland home, but it's not the only place to save. A few simple changes elsewhere in the house can make a real difference to your power bill too.
Lighting
Older halogen and incandescent globes use more energy and need replacing more often than LED lighting. Switching your home over to LEDs is one of the simplest, longest-lasting upgrades you can make – they run cooler and last significantly longer than older globes, and in most cases they're a straightforward retrofit for your existing fittings.
Appliances and Standby Power
Many appliances still draw power even when they're switched off but left plugged in at the wall – think TVs, game consoles, chargers and kitchen appliances. Get into the habit of switching appliances off at the wall when they're not in use. When it's time to replace an old appliance, our appliance installation service can help you choose and safely install a suitable replacement.
Everyday Habits
Beyond your air conditioner and appliances, simple habits add up: make the most of natural light and ventilation where you can, keep your home well insulated, and seal gaps around doors and windows so cool (or warm) air doesn't escape. If you're looking for more ways to manage your home's temperature efficiently through the cooler months, see our guide to using your air conditioner in winter.
Ready for a more efficient home?
Want Help Cutting Your Energy Costs?
Our team can service your existing air conditioner, recommend an efficient replacement, or help with LED lighting and appliance upgrades.
Further information
References
- Energy Rating – Australian Government
- Energex – PeakSmart Air Conditioning Rewards
- Energy Made Easy – Australian Government
Looking for more guides like this one? Browse our Information & Advice hub for practical electrical and air conditioning advice, or find out more about our air conditioning service.
Local energy-smart advice
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