If you want an unobtrusive, highly effective, and energy efficient cooling solution, ducted air conditioning is the way to go. To help you through the purchasing process, and to save you money, we have outlined how to calculate the cost of running ducted air conditioning and how to reduce the running costs of your ducted air conditioner below.
How To Calculate The Cost Of Running Ducted Air Conditioning
The cost of running a ducted air conditioner varies from household to household due to a number of factors such as insulation, windows, energy efficiency of the system, and size/layout of the house.
However, an estimated ducted air conditioning running cost can be calculated using the energy star label on your air conditioner. The energy star label should list the ‘power input’ of the air conditioner in kilowatts.Take the provided power input and multiply it by the kilowatt hour (kWh) cost listed on your last electricity bill. This will give you the cost per hour for running your ducted air conditioner.
For example, if the power input listed on the energy star rating label is 2.6, and the kilowatt house cost on your last electricity bill is $0.35/kWh, the cost per hour for running your ducted air conditioner would be $0.91 per hour. (Eg. 2.6 x 0.35 = 0.91)
Note: All figures provided are examples only. The actual running cost of your ducted air conditioner will vary based on the power input and electricity cost in your individual circumstance.
How To Reduce Ducted Air Conditioner Running Costs
Though the power input and electricity costs that determine the cost per hour of running your air conditioner may be fixed, there are a number of things that you can do to reduce the overall running cost of your AC. By increasing the efficiency at which your air conditioner cools, you will reduce the time that it is in use, subsequently reducing the running cost. Some ideas to increase the cooling efficiency of our air conditioner and reduce the running cost include:
Adjust The Thermostat
The temperature that you set your air conditioner to will significantly affect running costs. In fact, lowering the temperature by just 1 degree can add 10% to the AC’s running cost. So, setting your air conditioner to 24 or 25 degrees celsius during a heatwave, rather than 18 degrees, can significantly reduce running costs while still allowing your home to gradually cool to a comfortable temperature.
Insulate
Another way to increase the cooling efficiency of your air conditioner is to insulate your home. Installing installation will not only help to keep the cool air in in the summer, it will also make your home easier to warm in the winter. Simply closing the blinds or curtains on your windows will also help to reduce the heat transfer through the windows to reduce the running costs of your ducted air conditioner.
Cool Earlier
When you notice a particularly hot day in the weather forecast, or if you notice it’s going to be a hot day early in the morning, be sure to start cooling your home before the hottest part of the day. This will reduce the running cost of your air conditioner as it takes less energy to maintain the temperature of a cool room than to cool down a room that is already very hot.
Zoning
Choosing a ducted air conditioner with the zoning feature can also significantly reduce running costs. This is because, rather than having to cool the whole house whenever the air conditioner is turned on, you can choose which zones in the house to cool based on what areas are currently in use. This will reduce running costs and save energy that would otherwise be used to cool areas of the home that no one is currently using.
Regular Maintenance
Finally, ensuring that your air conditioner is regularly serviced will reduce running costs. This is because regular professional AC servicing will keep your air conditioner running smoothly and allow for any damage or issues to be identified and addressed before they can cause your energy bill to skyrocket.
Ducted Air Conditioning Brisbane, Redlands, Logan
Advanced Climate Solutions are your local AC experts, providing quality ducted air conditioner installations, maintenance, and repairs Brisbane, Redlands, and Logan wide. Call us today on 0403 254 272 for a free quote or fill out our contact form and we’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
