How Australians are wasting $1.3 billion on air conditioners
Author: www.9news.com.au Date Posted:7 January 2018
Australians are predicted to waste more than a billion dollars on air-conditioning use this summer due to bad habits, a survey by finder.com.au has found.
With severe heatwave conditions consistently sweeping across the country, air-conditioning users are being warned that leaving units running when they are not home could be clocking up a hefty electricity bill.
The survey consisting of 2017 respondents reveals that 23 percent of Australians – equivalent to 2.3 million households – admit to leaving their air-conditioning units running when they are not home.
This aircon indulgence is wasting an average of 4.1 hours in energy per day, costing up to $1.3 billion in wasted energy expenditure over the summer months.
This could be adding $578 to the household’s quarterly electricity bill.
“When faced with a heatwave and temperatures as high as 40 degrees, we don’t usually think of our electricity bill some three months away – we just want to instantly cool down,” finder.com.au money expert Bessie Hassan said.
“But after a few scorchers, this way of thinking can leave you with post-summer bill shock.”
The typical split-cycle air-conditioning unit consumes around 5.0 kWh and costs around 2.7 cents to run per minute, which can cost close to $13 per night if users leave it running overnight.
“There are more wallet-friendly ways to keep cool in summer such as keeping blinds closed during the day to keep the sun out, and opting for a fan instead,” Ms Hassan said.
“If you find you really can’t live without air-con invest in a timer. That way you can set it to turn off once you fall asleep.”
It is believed generation Z (18 to 22 year olds) are the least savvy and keep the cooling running for 5.6 hours a day on average while not home.
In comparison, the survey found that generation Y (Millennials) wasted about four hours while not at home compared to generation X wasting 3.6 hours.
However, Baby Boomers are recorded at indulging in 4.2 hours of cooling while not at home.
Women are slightly more prone to aircon over-indulgence, wasting on average 253 minutes per day, in comparison to men who waste 233 minutes.
How to slash your cooling costs
1. Strategically use your aircon - Set it to 25 degrees if you want to keep costs down and only turn it on in rooms that people are in
2. Close your blinds - Keep the curtains and blinds closed during the day to keep the sun’s UV rays out
3. Compare providers - Review your plan and energy provider regularly to make sure you are getting the best discounts available
4. Check the star rating - If your energy bill is bordering on extortion, it might be due to old or faulty hardware
