Six marks on the dial
The guides run in the order most people meet them: from the label in the shop, through the room and the thermostat, to the hottest day of the year.
- The energy rating label
Stars by climate zone, capacity, energy use and noise.
- Sizing for a room
Why the room comes before the kilowatts.
- Split, ducted or evaporative
The main types and where each suits.
- The setpoint and running costs
What official advice says about the thermostat.
- Who may handle refrigerant
The refrigerant handling licence and how to check one.
- Cooling in a heatwave
Heatstroke and heat illness first aid, in full.
Four things the official sources agree on
The room comes before the machine
Your Home says “the best heating and cooling system is one that suits your climate, the size of your home, and your lifestyle.” Buying one that is too large or too small means using energy unnecessarily and paying more in the long run. It also suggests looking at how well the home itself holds a comfortable temperature, because improving that may mean you need less cooling than you think.
The label compares like with like
In stores, the Zoned Energy Rating Label must be displayed on single-phase, non-ducted, unitary or single-split air conditioners up to 30 kW, and it rates efficiency for three climate zones: hot, average and cold. Its stars compare models of a similar size and features, never a small unit against a big one.
Every degree counts
Your Home suggests a thermostat setting of 25 to 27°C in summer and 18 to 20°C in winter, and says each extra degree of heating or cooling raises the system’s energy use by about 5 to 10 per cent.
Refrigerant is licensed work
The National Environmental Protection Agency, which implements the Ozone Protection and Synthetic Greenhouse Gas Management Act, says only licensed technicians can handle refrigerants, and that it is an offence for anyone else to handle fluorocarbon refrigerants. Your Home adds that “fixed systems need to be installed by a licensed refrigeration mechanic or electrician”, and that the installer needs to hold a Refrigerant Handling Licence.
Where you live changes some answers
The refrigerant handling licence comes from national regulations. Work health and safety, which also governs work on air conditioning equipment, is regulated by each state and territory. Rebates differ too: energy.gov.au lists assistance from the Australian Government and the state and territory governments, and notes that it does not run any of those rebates or concessions itself.
Every room is its own case. Your Home says the technician who installs an air conditioner must hold a refrigerant handling licence, and can also advise on the right size for the space, so a licensed installer who has seen the room is the person to ask about yours.