Air-conditioning. Don t be a cooling fool! Shut it, will ya? Air Conditioning

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1 Air-conditioning Don t be a cooling fool! Are you the sort of person who leaves your air-con on all day while the house is empty? Or is the air-con switch the first thing you turn on when you get home? Is it on all night while you are cosily wrapped in your doona? Don t be a cooling fool! We want to give you the low down on some cooling alternatives. You ll be surprised how much money you can save. Whilst the use of some air-conditioning and cooling devices in Alice is unavoidable, there are many steps that you can take to keep comfy in your home. These will help reduce the need for using air-conditioners and keep energy bills down in many cases you can save hundreds of dollars per year. Air Conditioning Shut it, will ya? It s simple really for the same reason you keep windows and doors closed in winter to stop heat escaping, it s very important to keep doors and windows closed on summer days to keep your house as cool as possible for longer. On the mornings of hot days, close up the house and shade all windows to block out the summer heat. Be mindful to allow some fresh air to enter the house if you are home, preferably from the shaded (and therefore cooler) side of your house. Got ceiling insulation? It s particularly important to keep the house closed up on a hot day, because if heat enters the house, the insulation will trap that hot air inside. If you have slogged it out at work all day and come home during the cooler part of the day, try opening the doors and windows to allow the breeze in, before switching on the air-con. 1

2 Air Conditioning What s your fan plan, man? If you ve followed the advice above, you will find that fans will keep you comfortable for much of the time. Fans cost a fraction of the cost of running other cooling systems - around 1-2 cents/hour for most fans. Modern fans are even more efficient and particularly quiet. Come and check out a few examples in operation at the Smart Living Centre, including our funky sycamore inspired fan. Hands up if you ve got an evaporative system - a swampy? First up - why on earth is it called a swampy? It is believed the use of the term swamp cooler may be due to the odour of algae produced by early units. We re talking decades ago! Swampy s are in fact the most common system used in the Alice. They work by using a large fan which blows air over pads which are kept damp with water from a plumbed connection. In other words, a swampy keeps you cool by blowing, cool moist air over your hot, bothered bodies! To ensure maximum efficiency, ensure that: you use the low fan speed setting whenever possible; ensure that some windows or doors are left partially open to allow for the air movement to be maintained. An evaporative system costs around 5-15 cents/hour to run, depending on the fan speed. Incentive available* An Alice Solar City incentive of a 35% discount (up to $100) is available for having your swampy serviced. 2

3 Fact Because swampy s work by putting moisture into the air, they work well in our dry climate. Myth Some people think our climate is getting more humid and thus swampy s are becoming less appropriate. Wrong! There is no evidence to support this, meaning that the good ol swampy remains a perfectly good option for Alice Springs. Air Conditioning Got a refrigerative system aka a split system? Refrigerative systems, whether they be room systems such as the older window rattlers, their more modern cousins (known as splits ) or whole house systems (ie ducted), use a different method to provide cooling compared to evaporative systems. They work on the air already inside your home, filtering the air and removing heat and moisture - giving a cool, dry feel. For optimal efficiency, comfort and reduced running costs: ensure that the unit is set at either 26 C or 10 C below the outside temperature, whichever is warmer. 26 C degrees might sound high, but if you have a fan going as well, you ll still feel cool! Remember, for every 1 C cooler you set your system in summer, your running costs are increased by as much as 10%; close external doors and windows in rooms that are being cooled to reduce cool air escaping; close internal doors to rooms that are unoccupied so that you are not sending cool air to these rooms unnecessarily and therefore wasting energy. 3

4 Air Conditionings Refrigerative systems are generally the most expensive to run small systems typically cost cents/hour and larger models (eg. for the living room) cost around cents/hour. Ducted or less efficient models (such as those common in ex-defence houses in Alice Springs) can cost around cents/hour or more (for each unit). use in conjunction with a fan - you can have the thermostat on the air-conditioner set a few degrees warmer and still be comfortable if you have a fan operating (fans cost a lot less to run than air-conditioners); if the house is unoccupied during the day, don t leave the system running so that the house is cool when you get home. It doesn t take long to cool a house down. COOL SUMMER TIP! Remember a swampy system works on a different principle to a split/ducted system, so to save energy and money, make sure you use each system appropriately. Time for a service Our local water supply contains a lot of calcium as if you didn t know! To make sure your evaporative system is working efficiently, have your system serviced regularly. Evaporative air-conditioners require servicing every 1-2 years to ensure that pumps, motors and pads are free from calcification and the unit is operating effectively. 4

5 Maintenance for split systems is also important and typically involves cleaning the external fan unit and the internal outlet. This is a DIY job see your manual for more information. Pool Pumps Stop splashin money down the drain! We want you to get pool smart! A swimming pool can be a wonderful asset to your home, helping to keep you comfortable during our long, hot summer not to mention keeping the kids entertained! However, running your own pool can be a significant cost not just in chemicals, but in electricity and water bills as well. How you manage your pool can have a big impact on your total annual electricity costs. Here are some Cool Summer Tips for keeping your running costs down. Pool Pumps Maintenance, maintenance, maintenance keep it up! Stuff to do regularly: check that the filter pressure is within the normal range (get the pressure gauge replaced if it s not working); clean/backwash your filter if the water pressure is high or the pool water is not clear; remove debris from the strainer basket and vacuum as required; test the water, and add chemicals as recommended; clean the pool surrounds, keeping debris and run-off away from the pool; use a nylon brush to scrub the floor and walls of your pool as required; check walls or the vinyl liner for cracks or tears, and repair with an appropriate kit for your pool. 5