Advice and News •
It’s one of the bills we most hate to pull out of the letterbox: the electricity bill. It’s likely yours has been steadily increasing with the rise in electricity prices. But quite often it’s not just electricity prices that make power bills balloon. Homes that experience price hikes are often those that don’t run energy efficient ducted reverse cycle air conditioning.
But it’s not just about your power bills. We’ve just experienced our hottest summer on record, with many experts talking about the impact of global warming and subsequent climate change. One of the changes you can make to play your part in being energy smart is in the air conditioner you use.
What is ducted reverse cycle air conditioning?
Firstly, let’s explain exactly what a ducted reverse cycle system is. A ducted reverse cycle system:
- directs cool or warm air directly into different rooms via ducts
- allows the temperature to be controlled from a control panel
- can have sensors in different rooms to ensure the correct temperature is maintained
- can come with a zoning function allowing you to select different air flows/temperatures for different areas in your house
- can cool and heat a home.
To cool, the fan draws the hot air from your house and transfers it over a cold liquid called refrigerant. The air is cooled and flows back throughout your house. Because the refrigerant is warmed by the hot air, it evaporates and flows out to the compressor. The compressor creates high-pressure and high-temperature gas. This gas is then pumped through to the heat exchanger located outside your house. The heat is able to escape and the refrigerant can then cool.
To heat, the above process is reversed.
Why is ducted reverse cycle air conditioning better for energy consumption?
There are a number of reasons that ducted reverse cycle air conditioning systems are more energy efficient, but it all comes down to their ability to effectively cool and heat a house.
Rooms and walls
The moment you throw different rooms and walls into the mix, cooling and heating from a standard split-system becomes quite difficult. The larger the space is to cool, the less efficiency you can expect from smaller machines. Although the initial outlay for a standard split-system air conditioner is much less than a reverse cycle ducted system, over the long term it will end up costing you more. Obstacles like walls, divided rooms and floor space make it difficult for a split system to reach the desired temperature and so the system works harder, in turn using more energy.
Heating capabilities
Another energy consumption factor faced with non-reverse cycle systems is that they do not have heating capabilities. This means consumers are likely to use alternative appliances such as fan heaters or oil heaters for home heating. This set-up is hugely energy inefficient.
To explain how inefficient it is to heat a house without a reverse cycle air conditioner, using a standard electric heater, EnergyRating.gov.au uses a domestically available reverse cycle air conditioning system with the lowest energy efficiency rating as an example. This air conditioner will produce 3kW of heat output for every 1kW of electrical output. On the other hand, a standard electric heater you can buy from your local electrical retailer only produces 1kW of heat output for every 1kW of electrical output. The energy inefficiency here is obvious.
Zoning
Lastly, ducted reverse cycle air conditioners that come with zoning capabilities are much more energy efficient because cooling can be turned off in rooms you are not using. Standard systems often need to be left running as they are cooling or heating more than one area.
Considering the inefficiencies of non-ducted and non-reverse cycle systems, ducted reverse cycle air conditioning is by far the most economical and environmentally friendly choice. The ducted design ensures that cool and warm air is directed exactly to where it needs to be and the system doesn’t have to work harder to get it there. A main control panel and sensors ensure that the temperature is always balanced throughout the home. Being able to maintain the recommended 24°C in summer throughout the home is not only great for comfort levels but for energy efficiency.
“But ducted air conditioning is so expensive!”
Yes, ducted reverse cycle air conditioning has a much higher outlay compared to other air conditioning systems, but its energy efficiency and the energy savings you’ll see over the long term is what makes it worthwhile.
To ensure you don’t pay more than you need to if you do decide to purchase ducted reverse cycle air conditioning, here are a few things to consider.
Window coverings
Ensure your home has sufficient window coverings before the ducted air conditioning is installed. You don’t want the heat of the sun radiating through windows and taking away the cool air.
Insulation
If you don’t yet have insulation in your ceiling, it’s highly recommended that you factor this into your ducted air conditioning costs. Insulation helps to hold onto warm and cool conditioned air for longer periods, which helps to maintain temperatures, comfort levels and to reduce energy costs.
Ventilation
Queensland summers are hot and air conditioners work extremely hard to lower internal temperatures. It can be made a whole lot easier if you consider installing ventilation systems such as a whirly bird to remove heat from the ceiling cavity, making cooling easier and more efficient.
Get a few quotes
Don’t just get one quote, get three. Compare the quotes. Does each supplier recommend the same size unit? If they don’t, ask why. A unit that is too small or too big will not be energy efficient.
Energy efficiency is quickly becoming a necessary factor in appliance purchasing. Air conditioning is one of the largest users of household energy. Therefore it pays to seriously consider the benefits of ducted reverse cycle air conditioning. Do your bit for the planet, while you also save money on your power bill. It makes sense, doesn’t it?
Ready for a lifestyle change? Contact H & H Air Conditioning about our energy efficient ducted reverse cycle air conditioning systems NOW!
Special Fujitsu Promotion!
A Fujitsu Manufacturers Prepaid Visa Card of $400.00 is being offered on the Fujitsu Multi Split Inverter System or Ducted Inverter Air Conditioning System if supplied, installed and paid in full between 1st March 2017 and 31st July 2017. This offer is redeemable by the customer direct to the Manufacturer only. Conditions apply. See Fujitsu General for details. Entries close 31st August 2017.