How to cool your home efficiently
As the weather heats up, Queensland households will be switching on their air conditioners and looking for ways to cool their home.
However, air conditioning units are a big source of power consumption in the home with every degree of extra cooling potentially increasing your electricity consumption by 5-10%1.
With RACQ’s latest survey revealing a third of Queenslanders (35.4%) use air conditioning instead of fans and nearly half (46.3%) set the air conditioning temperature below 25°C many households could be opening themselves up to high energy bills2.
Using fans over air conditioning and opening your home to circulate the breeze are the most cost-efficient way to save on your energy bill during the warmer months.
If you do opt for air conditioning, there are ways to ensure it’s operating efficiently.
Simple steps to use your air conditioning efficiently
- Make sure to set it at 25°C when cooling your home.
- Clean air conditioning filters once a year to ensure your unit runs as efficiently as possible.
- Utilise timers on your air conditioner, so it’s doing enough to cool your home without running for lengthy periods.
- If you have a ducted system, only cool the room you are using rather than the entire house. You should also close doors, windows, shutters and curtains to ensure the cool air stays inside.
Other solutions to help you save on your energy bill
- If you are looking to upgrade your air conditioning unit, consider buying one with the best energy rating that is suitable for your home.
- Installing external shades or awnings to shade your windows and reduce heat.
- Opening windows on both sides of the house to create air flow. And also using whirlybirds to remove hot air from the roof.
- You can also gain greater energy independence by installing a home battery alongside solar to store excess energy. Queenslanders can also save on a home battery through the latest Australian Government rebate.
Find out what other home energy habits could be costing you.
Follow these tips to cut down your energy costs in winter.
1Queensland Government. (2020). Energy efficiency guide. https://www.qld.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0030/168942/energy-efficiency.pdf
2Survey findings from RACQ Quarterly Consumer Omnibus, FY26 Q1, n=510
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