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Discover the best methods for using air conditioning and saving energy. Keep your home cool and your wallet happy
Although many people have air conditioning at home, they still there are doubts on how to use it efficiently. Air conditioning consumes a lot of energy; for example, keeping all the lights on in an average home throughout the day and night uses about the same energy as one hour of air conditioning in the same space.
Reduce temperature efficiently, saving energy
Many people believe they can save money and energy by cooling the room to a very low temperature, such as 17°C, for a short period, then turning it off and enjoying the fresh air until they need to turn it on again. However, it requires a lot of energy to bring a room to such a low temperature.
While it may seem like an economical option, cooling the room briefly and at very low temperature intervals is not the most energy-efficient option. Here we explain what to do instead.
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Reduce heat build-up in the home
First, try to minimize the need for air conditioning. Look for ways to prevent your home from getting hot.
Heat can enter from outside through surfaces such as walls, windows and ceilings. Warm air can infiltrate under doors or through open windows and vents. Appliances and people inside the house also generate heat (although the impact of heat generated by people is relatively small unless there is a large group).
To reduce some of this heat, you can:
- Close blinds and windows before it gets hot.
- Use seals on exterior doors to prevent hot air from entering.
- Plant trees (deciduous trees will allow sunlight to pass through in winter).
- Install exterior shades, especially on the north and west facades of your home.
- Improve ceiling and wall insulation, glazing and window sealing (time and budget permitting).
- Reduce the use of the oven and kitchen on very hot days (more efficient appliances reduce this heating effect and save energy).
Rooftop solar systems provide a double benefit: they add shade to the roof to prevent heat from entering that way, and they offset energy use.
If you live in a two-story home, the lower level may be a few degrees cooler; it might be useful to be downstairs on a very hot day.
Set your air conditioner to the highest temperature that is comfortable
As for air conditioning, the most energy-efficient action is to set the temperature to the highest setting that is still comfortable (26°C during the day and 22°C for sleeping is a common recommendation). Then leave it on.
Modern units (with technology known as an “inverter”) will adjust their output efficiently to maintain the internal temperature at the value you choose.
However, be careful; Setting the temperature too low may cause the unit to use more energy than you realize (according to the star rating label).
Older units without an inverter will cycle on and off to maintain temperature, and you can usually hear and feel this. (On the other hand, newer inverter units don't tend to cycle on and off as much; they generally stay on and continually modulate their output).
For non-inverter units, in general, staying on much longer than it is off indicates that the air conditioner is working too hard. This may suggest that the unit is too small for the space you are trying to cool, or that you have too much heat in the house (are you cooking a roast?). It could also suggest a failure.
Ceiling Fans and Maintenance Can Help
Regardless of the type of air conditioning you have, for every degree Celsius you lower the temperature, energy consumption increases between 5% and 10%. That's why it's important not to overcool. Repeatedly cooling the room with air conditioning to a very low temperature throughout the day is not a smart option.
Using ceiling fans along with air conditioning can make the room feel 2-3°C cooler due to air movement, which means you can set your air conditioning to a higher temperature. Fans use very little energy compared to air conditioning.
Clean air filters regularly (your manual will explain how) and make sure grilles and vents are not blocked by furniture or, in the case of outdoor units, vegetation.
If parts of your outdoor units are badly corroded or bent, the unit probably won't work as well. Animals can cause damage to outdoor units, but the parts can usually be replaced easily.
If your air conditioner doesn't seem to work well, makes unusual sounds, or error codes appear on the control unit, have it checked.
And if a cool temperature change arrives, turn off the air conditioning and open as many windows and doors as possible to allow the breeze to flow through the house.
If you have a time-of-use electricity rate (this will be on your electricity bill if applicable), reducing usage in the afternoon and evening can save you a lot. Energy prices can be double or more at these times.
An efficient unit can save money and energy in the long run
When it's time to replace your air conditioner, carefully consider its energy efficiency or star rating.
The more stars, the better; even an additional half-star can offset its cost over the life of the unit (especially if you also use it in winter for heating).
