Cool your costs
Whenever Mat Lewis chooses to use ceiling fans at home instead of the airconditioning, he knows he’s saving money. The digital marketing business owner says he invested in fans for his Brisbane home to improve air circulation, keep his family cool and cut his cooling bill.
Lewis, 46, says he barely runs his airconditioning unless the temperature soars to 35 degrees.
“Not having to rely on the airconditioner to cool the house all the time means I probably save between $1000 and $3000 a year depending on how often we use the fans,” Lewis says.
Smart technology allows the fans – which are in the bedroom, living area, outside deck and kitchen – to be programmed to switch on and off at certain times and modify their speed when they sense more or less people in a room.
Research shows the cooling breeze that fans create can make a person feel up to 6C cooler.
Fan company Big Ass Fans crunched the numbers and found in regards to energy costs, fans come in at $14.88 per year, while AC units can cost upwards of $2505. The company says in terms of running costs, fans cost $110 annually compared to $2700 for properly serviced AC units (with an estimated cost of $1200 to maintain and service).
“Just about every Australian household is searching for hip-pocket relief, and with electricity prices skyrocketing, this is one way of doing just that,” Big Ass Fans finance manager Stephen Rinaldi says.
However, with Australia expected to experience higher than usual temperatures in February and March, many households will not have time to install fans and may need to rely on existing air conditioners.
FIVE WAYS TO SAVE
Mitsubishi Electric Australia’s product expert, Atesh Mani, has these five tips to keeping cool with an AC unit while still saving your hip pocket.
1 Think smart: While tempting to leave your AC on all night, consider automating your device to switch off a few hours after you fall asleep via a mobile app. You can control your AC from your workplace, when dining out or for those nights when you don’t want to get out of bed.
2 Leverage power saving modes: looking at your AC’S user manual for power saving features, you can better understand how to maximise the unit’s energy efficiency, helping you save on unnecessary costs. A timer is also a great way to keep a cap on energy costs and usage by limiting the length of time you use your AC.
3 Keep it clean: The dirtier the filter, the harder the air conditioning unit will have to work to maintain the same temperature, meaning higher electricity consumption and more costly energy bills. It is recommended to clean the air filter every two weeks, and replace the filter annually.
4 Shut doors and windows: Close the doors and windows to unused rooms in your home, ensuring you solely cool the rooms you are in at the time. Closing blinds and external shutters can also help to keep the heat out and may reduce the load on your air conditioner.
5 Look for the stars: The more stars on the label, the more energy efficient the unit and the less your AC will cost to run. A recent report by Mitsubishi Electric revealed 90 per cent of Aussies are concerned about rising electricity prices, yet half (52 per cent) do not understand how to read an energy label, which can make for a big shock when it comes to receiving energy bills.