Overview
- New reporting concludes that turning the heating off during absences longer than 4–5 hours is usually more efficient than leaving it at 15–17 °C, with recommended night targets of 16–17 °C and daytime levels of 19–21 °C.
- Efficiency advice stresses moderate setpoints: for cooling, keep rooms around 24–26 °C, and expect roughly 7% more electricity use for each degree you set lower.
- Regulators say AC Sleep mode at night can reduce consumption by up to about 25–30% versus a fixed temperature, and manufacturers recommend Dry mode in humid conditions to improve comfort with less energy.
- Device choice materially affects bills, with typical power draws around 3,000–3,500 W for central AC, about 900–1,440 W for split units, and roughly 2,900–4,100 W for portables.
- Smart thermostats and home automation can cut energy use by up to about 30%, boiler servicing can improve efficiency by around 15%, and better insulation and window upgrades further reduce heating and cooling demand.