The Con in Air-Conditioners
AIR-CONDITIONERS are a major problem. For every air-conditioner purchased by a consumer there are indirect costs associated with their use –as they are primarily used at peak times. These costs are considerable; they are not paid for by the user, but are spread among all electricity users, me and you. For example it has been estimated that the indirect costs for installing a small 2 kilowatt air-conditioner amount to $2,000 approx. and an 8 kWh unit indirect costs amount to $8-$16,000 approx. These costs are spread across all users i.e., we all pay.
"The cost of electricity will soar in coming years and the biggest culprit is air-conditioners. In SA, 90% of homes use them, QLD close behind, and in NSW, 50% of homes. They are power-hungry and threaten the stability of the electricity grid during peak power demands in Summer, especially during the day.
At present, whether you have air -conditioning or not, your electricity bill is higher because the cost of the extra infrastructure needed in the power grid is spread among all electricity users. Air-conditioners push up the peak demand for electricity: meaning more power stations are needed, more coal is burnt and more greenhouse gases emitted. Up to 45% of what we pay in our power bills is to upgrade the infrastructure. It has been estimated that the cost to all of us for one person to install an air-conditioner is around $13,000. Most people don’t realise this."
There are alternatives: solar powered evaporative coolers are now available. They are suitable for hot dry climates. Check out Coolmax Solar. For hot, humid climates the best options are: shading (includes sails, trees, awnings, pergolas etc.), insulation and good ventilation.
Environmental home retrofitting consultants can design a solution to suit your budget. Phone Byron Energy Efficient Design 
(02) 6685 7713