Melbourne summers are becoming increasingly unbearable.
According to Bureau of Meteorology data, Victoria has experienced multiple heatwaves in recent years. During these high-temperature periods, hospital emergency rooms are often filled with heat stroke and heat exhaustion patients—most of them elderly.
What’s heartbreaking is that many elderly heat stroke cases weren’t due to lack of air conditioning, but because they couldn’t bear to turn it on.
“Electricity is too expensive—running AC for a day costs dozens of dollars.” This is what we at Aircool HVAC hear most often during service calls. Some elderly residents would rather sit in stuffy rooms with hand fans than press the power button on their AC remote.
This fear of electricity bills is somewhat understandable—after all, power prices are rising, and summer electricity bills can be shocking. However, completely avoiding air conditioning can cost you your health, or even your life.
The good news is that there are ways to save on AC electricity. Today, we’ll share 8 practical tips to help you stay cool while keeping bills manageable.
Tip 1: The Golden Rule of Temperature Setting—26°C
Many people set their AC to 18°C or 20°C the moment they turn it on, wanting to turn their room into a freezer. Little do they know, this is the most power-hungry approach.
The Science: Air conditioner power consumption is proportional to the difference between the set temperature and outdoor temperature. For every 1°C decrease in set temperature, power consumption increases by approximately 6-10%.
Best Practice:
- Summer AC temperature should be set at 24-26°C
- Combined with a fan, 26°C feels quite cool
- For sleeping, try 27-28°C with timer function
For a 2.5kW split system, running at 20°C versus 26°C shows significant power consumption differences. At current Melbourne electricity rates, this difference can add up to hundreds of dollars over a 90-day summer.
Tip 2: Make Good Use of Timer and Sleep Modes
Those buttons on your AC remote you’ve probably never used are actually energy-saving tools.
Timer Function:
- Set the AC to turn off automatically 3-4 hours after bedtime
- Your metabolism slows during sleep, reducing temperature sensitivity
- Early morning hours are the coolest—AC usually isn’t needed
Sleep Mode:
- Sleep mode automatically raises the set temperature after you fall asleep (typically 0.5-1°C per hour)
- It also reduces fan speed and noise
- Saves power without waking you up cold
Smart Tip: If your AC supports it, set a program like “turn on at 6 AM, turn off at 10 PM” to avoid running when no one’s home.
Tip 3: Regular Filter Cleaning—The Most Overlooked Energy Saver
This might be the simplest, cheapest, yet most effective energy-saving method.
Why Does a Dirty Filter Waste Electricity?
AC filters remove dust and particles from the air. When filters become clogged:
- Airflow is restricted, reducing cooling efficiency
- The compressor must run longer to reach the set temperature
- Power consumption can increase by 15-30%
Cleaning Frequency:
- Heavy summer use: Every 2 weeks
- Normal use: Monthly
- Allergy season or pet owners: Weekly checks
Cleaning Method:
- Turn off AC power
- Open the indoor unit panel and remove the filter
- Vacuum surface dust
- Rinse with water (not exceeding 40°C)
- Air dry completely before reinstalling
This simple action can lead to noticeable electricity savings annually while extending your AC’s lifespan.
Tip 4: Combine with Fans—Feel 3°C Cooler Instantly
AC + fan is the most cost-effective combination.
The Science: Fan airflow accelerates sweat evaporation on your skin, removing more heat and making you feel cooler. This is called the “Wind Chill Effect.”
Practical Application:
- AC at 26°C + fan feels like AC at 23°C alone
- A typical fan uses 30-50W, while lowering AC by 3°C requires an extra 300-500W
- Simple math: Using a fan to “replace” AC cooling saves over 80% electricity
Tip: Ceiling fans work even better as they circulate air throughout the room, avoiding the “cold head, warm feet” uneven cooling.
Tip 5: Improve Home Insulation to Reduce Cool Air Loss
Often, it’s not that your AC isn’t powerful enough—your house is “leaking” cool air.
Common Cool Air Escape Points:
- Door and window gaps
- Old single-pane windows
- Unshaded west-facing windows
- Insufficient roof insulation
Improvement Suggestions:
Short-term Low-cost Solutions:
- Check door and window seals, replace damaged ones
- Use blackout curtains or blinds, especially on west-facing windows
- Install shade covers above outdoor units (without blocking airflow)
Long-term Investments:
- Install double-glazed windows
- Enhance roof insulation
- Consider external window awnings
Data shows that proper insulation can reduce AC energy consumption by 20-30% for the same cooling effect.
Tip 6: Choose the Right AC—Save from the Source
If your AC is over 10 years old, replacing it with a high-efficiency model might be your best “energy-saving investment.”
The Importance of Energy Ratings:
Australia’s AC energy labels use a star system (1-10 stars)—higher stars mean better efficiency. For a 2.5kW split system:
- 2-star (old model): Higher annual energy consumption and running costs
- 4-star (standard): Moderate efficiency with reasonable running costs
- 6-star (efficient): Lower energy consumption with significant savings
The difference is clear. A higher-rated AC compared to a lower-rated one can save thousands of dollars over its lifetime, often covering the initial price difference.
Buying Tips:
- Prioritize inverter ACs—they’re 30-50% more efficient than non-inverter models
- Check both cooling and heating efficiency ratings
- Match capacity to room size—don’t undersize
For more information about selecting efficient HVAC systems, consult our professional team.
Tip 7: Use “Dehumidify” Mode Correctly
Melbourne summers aren’t just hot—they can be humid. In these conditions, “Dehumidify” mode might save more power than “Cool” mode.
Why Does Dehumidifying Save Power?
- Cooling mode: Compressor runs continuously, producing lots of cold air
- Dehumidify mode: Compressor runs intermittently, mainly removing moisture
When humidity drops, the same temperature feels cooler (that’s why “dry heat” is more bearable than “humid heat”). On humid days, dehumidify mode can maintain comfort while reducing power consumption by about 30%.
Ideal Conditions:
- Muggy weather after rain
- Days with humidity above 70%
- When temperatures aren’t extremely high (below 30°C)
Tip 8: Develop the Habit of Closing Doors and Windows
This last tip is the simplest, but many people fail to do it.
When AC is Running, You Must:
- Close all doors and windows
- Close doors to uncooled areas
- Draw curtains (especially north and west-facing windows)
Why Is This So Important?
Running AC with open doors and windows is like opening your refrigerator door trying to cool the entire kitchen—absurd. Every open door or window means your AC is “cooling the whole street.”
Tests show that one open window can increase AC energy consumption by over 40%. So, taking 10 seconds to check doors and windows before turning on AC can save significant money over summer.
Stay Cool and Save Smart This Summer
Back to the question at the start: Should you use AC during Melbourne summers?
The answer is definitely yes. In extreme heat, air conditioning isn’t a luxury—it’s life support. Especially for the elderly, children, and those with chronic conditions, heat stroke can have serious or even fatal consequences.
But using AC doesn’t mean burning money. With these 8 tips, you can protect your health while keeping bills reasonable:
- Set temperature to 26°C
- Use timer and sleep modes
- Clean filters regularly
- Combine with fans
- Improve home insulation
- Choose high-efficiency AC
- Use dehumidify mode correctly
- Keep doors and windows closed
If you have questions about your AC’s efficiency or want to know if you need a system upgrade, contact Aircool HVAC. We offer free efficiency assessments to help find the best energy-saving solution for you.
This summer, don’t make yourself sick over electricity bills. Use AC wisely—stay healthy and save money.
For professional cooling system maintenance and installation services, contact our team today.
