Summer cooling tips

How to get the most out of your air-conditioning –

• Keep hot air out by closing all external doors and windows – this reduces the amount of work an air-conditioner has to do to maintain a comfortable temperature inside
• Install ceiling insulation, as heat transmitted through the roof can cause up to a 40 per cent rise in the internal temperature
• Draw the curtains on windows to insulate your interior workspace from the ingress of heat through large expanses of glass
• Beat the heat. If a hot day is forecast, turn the air conditioner on early. It’s more effective to maintain a comfortable internal temperature “from scratch” rather than having to reduce the temperature in a workspace that has already reached uncomfortable levels
• If you need to reduce the temperature quickly, run the fan on high speed only until the desired temperature has been reached, then reduce the setting to low to maintain the temperature
• Every degree counts, so check the thermostat. Comfort levels generally range from 21 degrees to 25 degrees depending on the workspace and nature of your business. Don’t make the air-conditioning unit work harder than it needs to
• Is the air-conditioning unit suitable for your business? Needs may vary depending on your work space layout, partitioning, number of employees, number of windows, renovations etc. A range of factors can impact on the effectiveness of air-conditioning and it’s vital to purchase an air conditioning unit that best suit your needs
• Check and clean filters on a regular basis. Approximately 90 per cent of air-conditioning failures can be attributed to dirty or blocked filters. A dirty filter also forces the unit to work in overdrive, chewing up unnecessary energy.

For more tips to reduce energy consumption – and save you money – contact energy answers on 1800 206 166.