5.Aircon cool

While a ducted whole-house system may seem like the gold standard, think about the areas that require an airconditioned boost, and those that will get by on more passive techniques. Single units such as the Toshiba Hi Wall Split System airconditioners come in a range of capacities, from 2kW – ideal for a bedroom – through to 10kW for large, open-plan living spaces. They use two compressor control modules to rapidly turbo-charge to the desired temperature, and then revert to ‘cruise-control’, maintaining comfort while consuming less power with a quiet outdoor unit. Smart zoning systems such as those from Air Touch enable the more efficient use of ducted airconditioning set-ups. Air Touch handles natural temperature fluctuations throughout the home by managing individual airflow needs in up to 16 zones.