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Running a reverse cycle air conditioning system can cost anywhere from $0.20–$0.70 per hour, depending on the size of the space they're cooling. A small system will probably cost less than $0.35 per hour to run.
We've done a detailed cost breakdown of how much running your aircon might cost you based on its size and where you live.
5–6kW$273 (1,258kWh)$104 (420kWh)$60 (265kWh)
Size of aircon system | Hot climate (Brisbane) | Mixed climate (Sydney) | Cold climate (Canberra) |
---|---|---|---|
2–2.5kW | $96 (441kWh) | $36 (147kWh) | $21 (93kWh) |
3–4.5kW | $187 (864kWh) | $71 (289kWh) | $41 (181kWh) |
Note: These values are consumption figures based on reverse cycle, single split system, non-ducted Daikin air conditioner products registered in the Commonwealth of Australia E3 database. Capacity is based on ratings at 35°C. Usage estimates are based on average power costs: 21.68c/kWh in Brisbane, 24.68c/kWh in Sydney and 22.6c/kWh in Canberra. Climate zones are defined by the new Energy Label rating system for air conditioners introduced for products registered after 1 April 2020.
Air conditioners work primarily by pulling heat out of your house and dumping it outside. Here's what impacts how much power your aircon consumes to do its job:
We'll cover these in more detail in the following sections.
Region | Climate | Target aircon temperature |
---|---|---|
North coast, Northern Territory, Central Australia | Tropical | 21–23°C |
South-east Queensland, northern NSW | Subtropical | 25°C |
South Australia, south-west Western Australia | Mediterranean | 24–25°C |
Tasmania | Mild temperate | 28°C |
ACT and the surrounding parts of NSW and Victoria | Oceanic | 26–27°C |
Southern Victoria | Moderate oceanic | 24°C |
Larger areas need more powerful air conditioning units.
While you want to make sure that your aircon is big enough for the job, it's extremely important not to oversize it. An oversized aircon will cool down a small space very quickly and then shut off, causing a few problems:
With that in mind, here's a rough guide to size:
Room size (m2) | Common room types | Air conditioner unit power |
---|---|---|
10-25m2 | Bedroom, study, small office | 2.6kW |
25-35m2 | Bedroom and ensuite, office, small lounge room, small kitchen | 3.5kW |
35-60m2 | Master bedroom, medium lounge room, kitchen | 5–6kW |
60-80m2 | Large lounge room, big open plan areas, small shops | 7–8kW |
These are how some of the top air conditioners compare regarding running costs:
Brand | Model | Star rating (cooling) | Operating cost (yearly) |
---|---|---|---|
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | SRC35ZSA-W / SRK35ZSA-W (3.5kW) | 3.5 | $65 |
Fujitsu General | AOTG24KMTC/ASTG24KMTC (7.1kW) | 3.5 | $145 |
Mitsubishi Heavy Industries | SRC71ZRA-W / SRK71ZRA-W (7.5kW) | 3.5 | $142 |
Note: Operating cost was calculated using data from the Commonwealth of Australia E3 product database assuming Sydney's climate and usage rates of 24.68c/kWh. Cooling capacity is based on an outside temperature of 35°C.
Reverse cycle (also known as split cycle or split system) air conditioners and ducted systems are designed for different purposes. Here's how they compare on a few major points.
Reverse cycle AC | Ducted AC |
---|---|
Designed to cool a single room or space | Designed to cool your whole house |
Each room can be set to a specific temperature | All rooms are cooled to the same, centrally set temperature |
Relatively easy to install | Requires a dedicated duct system to be run throughout your house |
Individual units are relatively inexpensive ($1,500 or less) | Extremely expensive to install ($5,000–$30,000) |
The cheaper option depends on what you're trying to achieve with your aircon system.
However, if your house was built without air ducts or if you're renting, ducted air conditioning may not be a practical or affordable option.
Changing your energy plan to one with lower usage costs can certainly save you money on cooling costs, but it's less than you might think.
Here are 2 case studies – a Canberran household and 1 in Brisbane.
Case 1: Canberra (cold climate)
A resident of Canberra with a 4kW aircon will use about 181kWh of electricity on cooling per year. At 181kWh of power use multiplied by 22.6c per kWh on usage rates, this costs $41 per year.
Now, say they switch to a new energy plan that only charges 21.6c per kWh for power.
Over the year, at 181kWh of power use multiplied by 21.6c per kWh on usage rates, they'll now spend $39 on cooling, saving them $2.
Case 2: Brisbane (hot climate)
A resident of Brisbane with a 4kW aircon uses about 864kWh of power on cooling annually. This costs $187 a year on 864kWh of power use multiplied by 21.68c per kWh on usage rates.
Next year, they switch to an energy plan that only charges 20.68c/kWh for energy.
With the new plan, they'll spend $179 a year on cooling and save $8. This is at 864kWh of power use multiplied by 20.68c per kWh on usage rates.
While this doesn't seem like much, remember that you'll be shaving small amounts off all your power use with a cheaper energy plan, meaning that switching energy plans is still worthwhile.
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