Join Holly from Jarrahdale Heating and Cooling to discover the cost savings achievable by selecting an energy-efficient wall split air conditioner.
VIDEO TRANSCRIPT
Star ratings apply to wall-mounted air conditioning systems including reverse-cycle or split system units. The rating indicates the energy efficiency of the system. Each extra star equates to roughly 15-20% better efficiency.
To understand what this means in terms of cost savings, let’s compare star ratings for a mid-range wall-split, designed to heat or cool your average open plan living area.
A mid-range unit with a 2–3-star rating will typically cost $550-$650 to run. A unit for the same size room and usage with a 4–5-star rating will cost $450-$500 per year. This means you save $100-$200 per year by choosing a split system with a higher star rating.
This adds up! Over 10 years choosing a 4–5-star unit instead of a 2-3 star could save you $1000-$2000 in electricity for a single living area system! At this level of cost saving, typically you will easily re-coop any extra money spent to buy a more energy efficient system within the first few years of operation.
So which energy efficient model should you choose for Perth’s climate? Our recommendations would be the Fujitsu General Lifestyle Range or a Daikin Cora system.
For an open plan living area of roughly 30-50 square metres the Fujitsu Lifestyle Series 7.1kw AND the Daikin Cora 7.1kW are both great options. The Fujitsu General offers a star rating of 4-4.5 stars, and the Daikin performs marginally better at 4.5-5 stars, depending on if you are in heating or cooling mode. For an individual room, such as a large bedroom up to 30 square metres, running either the Fujitsu Lifestyle 3.5kW or the Daikin Cora 3.5kW will keep more money in your pocket with star ratings of 5-6 stars.
As you can see from these examples, Daikin slightly outperforms Fujitsu General for efficiency across models, but be aware, they do tend to have a higher initial purchase price….so which should you choose?
In my opinion, if your priority is maximum efficiency and the lowest possible running costs then Daikin is your clear winner. However, if you’re looking for a system that still offers very good efficiency and offers maximum value for money, the choice is Fujitsu. Keep in mind, compared to other air-conditioning brands on the market, both Daikin and Fujitsu are considered to have relatively low running costs and good efficiency, so really the choice is more about your individual needs and budget.
In addition to star rating, we also recommend considering and comparing the following when looking for an energy efficient and robust split system:
- Initial purchase cost
- Installation cost
- Reliability
- Performance in dry heat (Perth)
- Overall efficiency
I hope this information has helped. And if you’re based in Perth and would like more advice, please don’t hesitate to pop down to see me at our Maddington showroom or send a request at www.jhc.com.au.