10 affordable ways to stay cool this summer

Summer has officially arrived, but Australians have already been dealing with the heat for weeks thanks to soaring temperatures.

And there's more to come, as the Australian Bureau of Meteorology is forecasting a warmer than average summer for most states and territories.

Given what's in store, many households will be attempting to strike a balance over the next few months between beating the heat and keeping their energy costs down.

Some, it seems, are even prepared to go to the extra mile to reduce their energy bills, according to a recent survey commissioned by comparison website Finder.

One in four respondents said that they had resorted to keeping their aircon switched off even during the hottest days, while one in ten revealed that they had ventured out to the local shopping centre purely to avoid running aircon or heating at home.

Mariam Gabaji, energy expert at Finder, says that many Australians are having to change their behaviour and give up old habits to avoid summer energy bill shock.

"Aussies are so stretched financially that they dread the prospect of a high electricity bill and are doing what they can to avoid that."

So for those looking to put downward pressure on their bills, what are some more affordable ways to keep their homes cool and their costs down throughout the summer?

1. Get your air conditioner serviced

As useful as they are for keeping things cool, air conditioners can also be one of the more expensive appliances to run over the summer period - especially if they're not in good working order.

So if it's been a while, it could be worth getting your air conditioner serviced to ensure that it's running efficiently. Beyond that, make sure you give the filters a clean as well and remove any dust that's built up around the indoor or outdoor unit.

2. Turn down the temperature dial

If you can't imagine trying to cope with the summer heat without the help of an air conditioner, but you are concerned about the cost of running it, consider setting the thermostat to a lower level.

The Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water suggests keeping it set to between 25°C and 27°C and notes that every degree higher can reduce your energy consumption by between 5% and 10%.

3. Make the most of fans

If you can live just with fans, you will keep your power bills at a more manageable level. After all, fans typically cost a fraction of the price of air-conditioning.

In fact, consumer advocacy group CHOICE found that you could run most fans for 24 hours a day over an entire summer and pay only $30 or less for the electricity used. Pedestal and tower fans are also generally not that expensive to buy.

4. Seal gaps in your home

Whether it's summer or winter, gaps in your doors, windows, floorboards or other parts of your home can let in unwanted hot air during the warmer months and cold air during the cooler months.

Draught-proofing your home can be simpler and more budget friendly than it sounds though. Smaller gaps can be handled with a caulking gun and silicone sealant, or if a more temporary solution is needed, draught stoppers can come in handy.

5. Close windows and doors

Speaking of windows and doors, it can be worth keeping them closed during the day - if you can - when the temperature is highest.

But when the sun goes down, open the windows and let the house cool down. Hot air also rises, so open the tops of your windows so that the air can more easily escape through the high part of your windows.

6. Use appliances when it's cooler

It can be hard to avoid, but whether it's cooking using the oven and stovetop or putting a load of dirty dishes through the dishwasher, heat-producing appliances can add to the temperature of a home and counteract the benefits of cooling systems like air conditioners.

So where possible, run appliances like dishwashers and dryers during cooler times of the day. Just be aware of any relevant time-of-use tariffs and their potential impact on your energy costs.

7. Cook outside

Speaking of hot kitchens, another option to heating up the house unnecessarily is to fire up the barbecue and cook outside or eat cold food. Salads are particularly tasty in summer.

8. Invest in LED lights

Did you know that LED lights are not only less expensive to run that their incandescent and halogen counterparts, they also give off far less heat?

They do typically cost more upfront, but with a relatively short payback time, replacing older Christmas lights or any other lights around the house with LEDs could prove a simple win.

9. Optimise your fridge settings

If you've got family or friends coming to stay over the holidays or you're just planning on spending more time at home, chances are your fridge is going to be hard at work.

To make sure it's working efficiently, it's worth giving the door seals and the coils at the back of the fridge a clean. While you're at it, check that the temperature settings are optimal. Sustainability Victoria recommends that fridge compartments are set around 3°C and freezers around -18°C.

10. Compare energy plans

It might not keep your home cooler, but reviewing your current energy plan and being open to switching to a better value offer could certainly help with your energy costs.

Of course, there are plenty of factors which will determine if and how much you could potentially save, but Finder's research found that the difference between the cheapest and most expensive plans on the market can be as much as $500-$700 a year.

Tips for the long term

Beyond the simpler, more affordable solutions that many households will be able to implement relatively quickly, there are also a number of other actions that can be taken to combat the heat at home and help reduce energy bills in summers to come.

• Upgrade to efficient air-conditioning: Energy-efficiency regulations have driven air conditioner manufacturers to produce increasingly efficient models over the past few years. The cooling star rating is now based on the unit's annual energy efficiency rating (AEER), meaning that as well as operational efficiency its standby and other non-operational power usage is factored in.
• Add insulation: It's by no means a cheap option, but insulating your roof, floors or walls can go a long way to keeping out the heat in summer and the cold in winter.
• Shade your windows: Planting deciduous trees around your house can help keep the sun off your windows. If you can't grow trees, install shutters or exterior blinds.
• Use awnings to reduce solar heat gain: This is the amount the temperature rises because of sunshine. Some experts estimate awnings can reduce solar heat gain by as much as 65% on northern windows and even more on western windows.
• Install a ventilator fan: Typically installed on a house's roof, ventilation fans can be effective at sucking the hot air out of a house. Ideally they will be paired with a vent located somewhere else on the house which allows cooler air to come in.

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