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3 February 2020, Sydney, Australia – Air conditioning costs Aussie households $2 billion over summer, according to Finder, Australia's most visited comparison site.
A survey of 1,013 Australians found 69% of Aussies – equivalent to 6.8 million households – rely on their aircon during the hotter months.
The research found the average household runs their air conditioner for six hours a day during the peak summer period, at a cost of around $8.41 a day.
Graham Cooke, energy expert at Finder, says this kind of aircon usage can be damaging to the environment and your hip pocket.
"Australia is facing its hottest summer on record with a number of heat waves hitting us early in the season. Don't let the balmy nights get the better of you. Keep your aircon usage in check if you don't want to end up with a hefty bill at the end of the summer.
"There are a number of things we can be doing to stay cool: air conditioners should only be switched on when it becomes unbearable without it," he said.
Nearly 600,000 households admit they keep their air conditioning running when they're not at home.
"If you're not at home, you don't need your aircon running. Aussies need to stop overindulging and expecting to walk into a icey cool room as soon as they get home," said Cooke.
The survey also found that the typical household runs their air conditioner at 22 degrees – three degrees below the optimum temperature of 25 degrees.
"The perfect temperature setting for your aircon is 24-25 degrees, anything cooler than that is unnecessary.
"Finder has recently launched a calculator to help households determine where they can cut their aircon spend. Whether it's cutting down your use or adjusting your temperature setting, check it out to see where you can save."
South Australians are the most reliant on aircon, with 83% switching on during the summer months compared to 68% of Queenslanders.
The survey shows almost one third of Australians (31%) don't use air conditioning.
Cooke said there are some simple tips for running the air conditioner for less.
"Every degree you increase the thermostat could shave 10% off your bill," he said.
"A fan is a much more cost friendly option, and if it's strategically placed to get a cross-flow it can be quite effective too.
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Disclaimer
The information in this release is accurate as of the date published, but rates, fees and other product features may have changed. Please see updated product information on finder.com.au's review pages for the current correct values.
About Finder
Every month 2.6 million unique visitors turn to Finder to save money and time, and to make important life choices. We compare virtually everything from credit cards, phone plans, health insurance, travel deals and much more.
Our free service is 100% independently-owned by three Australians: Fred Schebesta, Frank Restuccia and Jeremy Cabral. Since launching in 2006, Finder has helped Aussies find what they need from 1,800+ brands across 100+ categories.
We continue to expand and launch around the globe, and now have offices in Australia, the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Poland and the Philippines. For further information visit www.finder.com.au.
12.6 million average unique monthly audience (June- September 2019), Nielsen Digital Panel