Heat stress is a growing health risk.Fans
Fans are the cheapest cooling appliance to buy and run. They have low running costs of 1c-2c an hour. Fans also reduce your energy when used with other cooling systems, such as airconditioners.
Airconditioning
When buying a refrigerated airconditioning system, it is important to choose the right sized system to match your cooling requirements. Undersized or oversized systems will end up consuming more energy.
To find the right-sized system for your home, use the following formulas: Living area: 0.125kw per square metre of floor area. Bedroom: 0.08kw/sq m.
Look for models with at least a 4.5-star energy rating – every extra star can reduce running costs by 10 per cent. When using an airconditioner, set the thermostat to around 26C. Every degree lower will cost you an extra 10 per cent in cooling costs.
Green Guru is published regularly in the Moreland Leader.
