Is ducted air conditioning energy efficient?

Bigger. More power. Greater coverage. What comes next?

For a lot of people, they assume the next phrase is “less efficient”. After all, it’s the most logical conclusion – a more powerful system that covers a large area is probably going to be less efficient.

You probably believe in this too. But what if we told you that you’ve been misguided?

We aren’t going to deny that ducted air conditioning installations use more total power than a split system.

However, when you consider the amount of cooling they pump out and their power, and the end result is that ducted systems punch well above their weight in the efficiency game!

Is ducted air conditioning efficient?

In a word, yes.

All types of systems have their own pros and cons – but when it comes to the downsides of ducted cooling however, energy efficiency isn’t one of them.

Still deciding whether or not to opt for ducted air conditioning in Brisbane? Is the energy usage worrying you? Our ducted air conditioning specialists are here to put your mind at ease…

VRV/VRF technology

How often do you really need your ducted air conditioner operating at 100% capacity? Not that often!

And that, in a nutshell, is the underlying principle behind VRV/VRF technology.

Bringing the mercury down from 40 to a comfortable 25 requires a lot of power – keeping it there doesn’t, however.

If your ducted cooling doesn’t need to run at maximum capacity, then it shouldn’t. What VRV/VRF (they’re different names for the same technology) does is alternate the amount of refrigerant or coolant needed to maintain a comfortable temperature.

VRV/VRF systems:

1. Track the temperature in a room
2. Measure the outdoor temperature
3. Calculate the minimum amount energy is needed to maintain the target temperature
4. Reduce cooling power accordingly

Without this technology, your ducted air conditioning would be running at full capacity, even when all it’s doing is maintaining your target temperature.

Not only is this a waste of power, but the constant stopping and starting also wears your system out sooner, and forces you to book air conditioning service in Brisbane more frequently.

Think about scaling

Sure, a single split system uses a lot less energy than a ducted air conditioning system.

However, it’s important to consider whether or not your system can scale up to meet your cooling needs.

If you need to cool more than one room, you’re going to need multiple split system units.

Eventually, you’ll reach the point of diminishing returns – in this case, the point where using that many split systems actually consumes more power than just getting ducted cooling to start with!

When you need to cool a large area, ducted cooling is the way to go. Since it’s designed for situations like this, it’s able to scale up and down with ease. You’ll be able to keep your home cool without driving up your power bills – not only that, but it’ll also bring down installation costs too.

At what point does it become more cost-effective to go for a ducted system over multiple split system air conditioners? Our mobile tech team can help you figure it out!

Innovative control options

Your TV can now browse the web. Your fridge will automatically fill out your shopping list with what you need. The phone in your pocket is faster and more powerful than the computers that put astronauts on the moon.

And a lot of these features are filtering into your ducted air conditioning system.

With a lot of older ducted air conditioning systems, your options were basically limited to “on” and “off”.

Today’s ducted systems however are much more flexible, with a range of extra features that can help you save power such as:

• Temperature and activity sensors
• Sophisticated zoning
• Granular control over airflow

Systems like MyAir can be retrofitted into many different ducted air conditioning brands, allowing you to take control over your comfort and save power while you’re at it!

Choosing energy-efficient ducted air conditioning for Brisbane homes

Aircon installation in Brisbane requires a lot of planning and research. It’s important that when you start planning for air conditioning that you look into a system that’s as efficient as possible.

Unfortunately, unlike split systems, ducted air conditioners don’t feature a star rating, which can make it hard to get a feel for how efficient they are.

However, ducted aircon does have to meet minimum energy performance requirements – currently, that means a 3.10 Annualised Energy Efficiency Ratio (AEER) and/or Annualised Coefficient of Performance (ACOP) for Australia.

Of course, it can be hard to find all of this information as a consumer.

Luckily for you, that’s what our air conditioning specialists are here for!

The importance of good system design

Our team is committed to ensuring you get the perfect system for your needs.

On top of helping crunch the numbers and figuring out which system offers the best balance between efficiency and performance, we’ll also match a system to your:

• Home and room volume
• Sunlight and shade
• Appliances
• Airflow and ventilation
• Room usage
• Building structure

All of which ensures that you get the best, most efficient cooling solution for your home!

Your #1 team for air conditioning in Brisbane

Building your new home? Simply looking to upgrade your cooling? Debating a Daikin vs Mitsubishi ducted air conditioner?

Whatever it is, our mobile tech team ensures that your cooling needs are met.

From aircon installation in Brisbane to ongoing service and repairs, we supply, install and service a wide range of different systems, including some of the most efficient systems on the market.

In-depth system design, a broad catalogue of reputable brands and more than 30 years of experience mean we can tackle your cooling needs, whatever they are.

All you need to do is get in touch – call our mobile tech team today on (07) 3394 0222, or click here to arrange a free quote.