Aircon will be one of your best assets in certain parts of Aus but it can cost a lot through inefficient use and open plan home layouts. I’ve known people who refuse to use it and have windows and doors open, suffering the heat and humidity. Some who have every unit and ceiling fan on max 24 hours a day then cry about their $2000 quarterly bill.

Here’s some tips to keep your bills down to a reasonable rate and be comfortable.

• Get the best energy deal you can, sometimes there may only be one provider with a monopoly on your DHA. Don’t take the generic plan, providers often have dozens of plans to confuse people. Get into the weeds, keep them on the phone, don’t get conned.
• If windows or doors are open, AC units off, ceiling fans on
• If an AC unit is on, close doors and windows (even internal), ceiling fans off to stop mixing the higher, hot humid air back in. You don’t sit on the ceiling; you dont need to cool it down! (I learned this from an Aussie after 5 years of doing it wrong)
• Most have an eco-setting, use it
• Once room is comfortable reduce it to ‘quiet’ or low fan speed
• In humid but cooler wet shoulder months, the dehumidifier is more efficient than cool
• Turn AC off going out, it only takes 1-2 minutes to cool a room once you get in
• If you need 2-3 units on to cool a large open plan space quickly, after a few minutes reduce to just areas you’re using, then reduce that single units power to quiet
• If any part of your DHA AC unit is old or noisy (inside or out) report it asap, it’s working harder than it needs to and drawing more energy
• Clean the filters often (YouTube it)