As temperatures rise, so does electricity consumption. Technicians and professors explain how to use air conditioners properly, how often to turn them on and off, and why an open window is the most expensive mistake.
Summer heat drives many to keep air conditioners running for days on end, but it's precisely in the way they're used that the biggest mistakes lie, sending electricity bills into the stratosphere. While some argue that AC units should run non-stop, others are adamant they should be turned off the moment you leave a room. Experts have clarified what's right and how to avoid wasting money unnecessarily.
Ivan Antić from the Union of Air Conditioning Technicians advises setting the AC to 25 or 26 degrees and letting it run continuously. On the other hand, Miloš Banjac, a professor at the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering, has a slightly different approach.
"We shouldn't constantly turn it on and off every two minutes when we step out, but it should run continuously while we're in the room, and when we leave, it should be turned off," Banjac explained. So, the key difference lies in whether you're in the room or have left it for an extended period.
Antić warns about a mistake he often sees in companies and government institutions, which easily migrates into homes. "What we notice when we visit companies or government institutions is that the AC is often running even when the window is open. That just doesn't work. Everything has to be closed for the AC to operate normally. If anything is open, the AC can't cool the space, and it runs at full capacity non-stop," he emphasized.
In addition to closed windows, Professor Banjac stresses the importance of blinds, awnings, and both interior and exterior shutters that reduce heat penetration into enclosed spaces.
AC maintenance directly impacts your bill. Antić emphasizes that clean filters are the most important factor in saving energy. "That way, we'll reduce consumption. If the filters are dirty, the AC doesn't work properly and uses more electricity while delivering less cooling power. At home, you can wash the filters yourself and give the AC a quick wipe-down on the outside," Antić said.
In Serbia, daily electricity consumption has reached 105 gigawatt-hours, dangerously close to the winter maximum of 115 gigawatt-hours on the coldest days. In some parts of cities, consumption is up to five times higher than the average.
Banjac also advises reducing the use of stoves and ovens as an additional saving measure. "As for internal heat gains, those are the stove and oven; the less we use them, or not at all, the better. Of course, we have to cook and eat, so we should prepare food that takes the least time or can be eaten over several days," he said.
An additional tip concerns the water heater: instead of scalding hot water, set it to a lower temperature during the summer. The AC, on the other hand, shouldn't be set below 25 degrees to avoid a temperature shock to the body when moving from outdoor heat into a cooled space, while also reducing energy consumption.
