Green & healthy ways to use AC this Summer

Global warming is bringing a constant increase in temperature, as well as extended spells of scorching, dry weather.

This affects not only the wildlife, but also the most urban parts of the planet. Consequently, the demand for air-conditioning systems has been on the constant rise and the requirements have been increasingly demanding. The reasons for this is the well-known link between indoor air quality and our health and our wish to be as environment-friendly as possible by using as little energy as possible.

As the technology involved continues to develop, so have various ways for the healthiest and most efficient use of these devices.

These tips and tricks that should help you and your family enjoy better quality air.

Make sure you use it only when necessary

If your windows provide no or little protection from sunlight, it’s going to take much more time, power and resources to cool down the temperature.

Install proper shades, shutters or thermal backed curtains and keep all your windows and doors closed during the hottest period of the day. This should help your AC reach the optimal temperature more easily and efficiently.

Also, you need to inspect the insulation of your windows and doors and possibly consider weather stripping to prevent air leaks and further improve the efficiency of your air-conditioner. You should also check to see whether or not you have insulation in your roof – being such a huge part of your home, this can trap the heat from the day long into the evening making it very difficult to cool your home.

Selection is the key

Many people feel overwhelmed by the choices available today. The ranges are wide, both in terms of price and functionality, and it’s vital you make an informed decision when buying a unit.

The first selection criterion is your need, i.e. the capacity of the room. Getting a device which is either too weak or too strong for the amount of air it’s supposed to cool is equally bad.

Next, you need to think about energy consumption. A system such as Energy Star should help you choose your new unit, but it’s also good to consult an expert on this matter.

Finally, often overlooked, but possibly the most important element, is the impact on the health of those spending time in the room. You don’t want your family, especially children to be exposed to poor indoor air quality, since it’s been proven to cause various health problems. The quality of filters and cooling agents is another subject you should raise with an expert and/or shop assistant.

Indoor air quality

Most AC systems just recirculate the indoor air, thus improving energy-efficiency, but also making the air a bit stale. Such air has a very negative effect on the respiratory system and with the number of children suffering from pulmonary diseases and allergies, this is a matter that should be taken seriously.

To prevent unwanted side-effects, we need to air the house out regularly throughout the day, especially right before and after sleep. On the other hand, those allergic to various types of pollen should be aware that early mornings are the times of the day when the pollen count is the highest.

Maintenance

Another important issue, since it’s only with regular and proper maintenance that the devices run efficiently. The entire systems needs to be cleaned regularly, not just the filters,we learn from Sydney-based specialists for aircon repairs.

It is also worth noting that no repair work should be delayed, since we need to have a perfectly functional unit to enjoy all the benefits. From cleaning and replacing air filters, to regular inspections of the whole system, no step should be missed.

As it turns out, ACs are irreplaceable devices at offices and homes, which means we have to make sure that they operate properly in order to maximise energy efficiency and prevent health issues among our loved ones.

Do you have AC in your home? Did you find the tips above helpful? Share with us below.

Image source Shutterstock.

25 Comments

- - meedee said
  - 19 Jan 2022
    10:58 am
Ive never had AC but I would love to have one in my bedroom for night time in Summer

- - mom19782016 said
  - 18 Jan 2018
    8:54 pm
I agree, consider looking for other things to bring the costs down like external awnings, planting trees / climbers etc.

- - rovermum said
  - 15 Jan 2018
    4:16 pm
I do try and hold off for as long as possible before turning the air con on and am mindful to keep all blinds downs and the house as dark and cool as possible. My husband services ours each year to make sure it’s working at its best and most efficient.

- - tessie said
  - 14 Jan 2018
    10:05 am
We have an aircon and have had it serviced recently. We were told it is working perfectly and just to keep getting it serviced yearly and clean the filters regularly.

- - Ellen said
  - 11 Jan 2018
    7:41 am
We rent our house. It’s a pity we can’t do anything to improve proper shades, shutters, insulation and or thermal backed curtains

- - ella12 said
  - 15 Nov 2016
    4:27 pm
An informative article, thanks for that.

- - mom101628 said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    10:20 pm
Great tips. I must admit even though I have one, we hardly ever use it.

- - rovermum said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    10:45 am
Good tips. We have Evaporative Cooling and my husband’s not a fan. He’s prefer refrigerated but, evap works well enough. It circulates the outside air which I like, so it’s not artificial air. My hubby cleans and disinfects it every year. We’ve not yet turned it on this year, but we’re hoping to soon.

- - mom134803 said
  - 10 Nov 2016
    3:53 am
We only have a portable AC in our bedroom and put it on on hot summer nights for half a hour or so before we go to bed.
- Ellen replied
  
  11 Jan 2018 , 4:13 am
  We moved houses and now rent a property which has 2 AC systems downstairs. . It’s certainly needed as this house gets very very hot. A pity that there’s no AC upstairs as the bedrooms get even hotter ! This week the temperature in the bedrooms reached the 40 C and the kids struggled to sleep, some of them sleeping on the bare floor and not on their mattresses !! I found it also very hard to get rid of the heat in the rooms. Even when the temperature has gone down, the heat keeps on hanging in the rooms.
- - mom70876 said
  - 09 Nov 2016
    11:01 pm
People over cool things in summer. Shopping centres are especially guilty of this, setting it to temperatures that you’d put the heater on for in winter.

- - mom90758 said
  - 05 Oct 2016
    9:28 pm
We have the split system in the master bedroom and the living room, but I must admit we never put it on. I don’t see much need for air-conditioning. I suffer much more from cold. And we bought a gas heater to try to keep the expenses down.

- - cherz said
  - 02 Oct 2016
    7:12 pm
We have ducted air-conditioning and I love it …after having a regular air -con then up grading when it got too old to an Actron ducted air-con we haven’t looked back.

- - Dreaming mummy said
  - 02 Oct 2016
    4:37 pm
I worry about using the air con so much now my son is born. I had been thinking of using a fan in his room with a muslin wrap draped over the front that has been dipped in iced water, but I’m not sure if it’s safe or going to be effective.. That way I don’t mind sweating it out a bit to keep the aircon off but atleast his room is cooler to sleep in. Will see how it goes!

- - coastalkaryn said
  - 02 Oct 2016
    11:11 am
great article – I have shared with my work mates

- - taynik46 said
  - 02 Oct 2016
    8:32 am
we try to use our sparingly, but when you have a two storey townhouse, and the heat rises, we need to put it on before bedtime otherwise my girls wouldn’t be able to sleep.

Good tips in this article though and a great timely reminder for us with summer just around the corner, hopefully!

- - mom134803 said
  - 02 Oct 2016
    7:26 am
We rent our house and there’s no build in AC system. We have a portable AC in my hub & mine bedroom, the rest of the rooms don’t have any. We only use it for half an hour before go to bed on very hot days.
Luckily our house is below street level and it’s always cooler inside then outside, however this is also the case in winter and our house is freezing cold during the winter season.
Winter or summer, we always air the house continiously.

- - meedee said
  - 01 Oct 2016
    10:13 pm
No AC here at all but even if there was I wouldnt be using it for the first half of Summer….im heading overseas to the snow for 7 weeks…yippie

- - Nas01 said
  - 01 Oct 2016
    10:08 pm
I can’t wait to be able to stop turning on the heater and at least the aircone costs us less.

- - mom64356 said
  - 01 Oct 2016
    9:21 pm
I wish it would start warming up here. All this rain means that it has been unusually cold. Great tips for using your AC properly!

- - mom93821 said
  - 01 Oct 2016
    4:03 pm
We only use AC as required.
- mom93821 replied
  
  02 Oct 2016 , 6:10 am
  We open windows and doors and close curtains during the heat of the day. There are so many ways to cool a home without AC.