Australian_House_&_Garden_2016_12

AUSTRALIAN HOUSE&GARDEN| 189

‘The key factor in reducing costs is buying the right size

and type of airconditioner for your space.’Dr Robert Simpson

FROM LEFTPure Hot+Cool Linkportable fan/heater,$749, Dyson. KTF816BLK Arctic 7 77 cm
towerfan,$70, Kambrook. FA7450 Loft 99cmtower fantower fan,$129, Sunbeam. Rinnai RPC35WA$129 Sunbeam Rinnai RPC35W
portableairconditioner,$699, The Good Guys. Goldair 2.5Lindoor mistingfan,$199, Harvey
Norman.OPPOSITEfrom topAirfusion Resort 203cmceilingfan,$795, Beacon Lighting. High
Velocity 130cmpedestalfan,$149, Omega Altise. VLT2001 40cmdesktopfan,$159, DéLonghi.

also important to ensure the system

is correctly sizedfor the space and

serviced periodically,” says Dave Smith,

general manager for sales and

marketing at Fujitsu General Australia.

Ifyou live in a hot, dry area, you might

consider an evaporative cooler, which

worksby evaporatingwaterintothe

air to cool and humidifyyour interior.

“Evaporative coolers can be cheaper to

buy and run than airconditioners and

are more effective than fans in dry

climates,” says Simpson.

Meanwhile, if you live in a humid

zone, a portable airconditioner could be

a consideration. “They are versatile but

not as efficient or effective as split-

system airconditioners,”says Simpson.

“Also bear in mind that they need to be

connected to an open gap (via aflexible

duct) to expel hot air.”

Fans are theleast expensive cooling

option and are very effective at taking

the edge off the heat. Design-wise,

you’ll be spoilt for choice. The range

extends from Dyson’s chic bladeless

portable fans to models that emit a

cooling mist and sculptural ceiling

fansthatblurthelinebetween

appliance and art.

“The array of finishes is impressive

• black, charcoal, whitewash and maple,,”
  says Beacon Lighting’s Denise Hammondd.
  Some new ceilingfans have interesting
  features integrated into their design,
  suchas wireless Bluetoothspeakers,
  says Andrew Opde Coul, national
  electrical buyer at Bunnings. “Other
  models include energy-efficient LED
  lightbulbs. DC technology motors are
  anew featureinsomemodelsthatalso
  increase energy efficiency and reduce
  operational noise.”
  The impressive functionality doesn’t
  stop there. The new app-connected
  Dyson Pure Cool Link and Pure
  Hot+Cool Link not onlyfunctions
  as a fan, it monitors air qualityand
  automaticallycaptures 99.95 per
  cent of allergens and pollutants in
  its HEPAfiltration system.
  Meanwhile, Dimplex’s new Intellifan
  detects thepresence ofpeople in the
  room anddirects coolair towardsthem
  while automaticallyadjusting outputt
  suit the conditions. #

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STAR SAVVY

All non-ducted airconditioners

carry an energy-star ratingof

between one and 10 stars. “Ifyou

arebuyinga new airconditioner,

the keyfactor in reducingcosts is

buyingthe right size and typefor

your space,”says Dr Robert

Simpson. “Each extra star will

reduce runningcosts by about 1 0

per cent.”To calculate running

costs, multiplythepower input(in

kW)bythe number of hoursyou

run the unit and the rate you pay

for electricity.Forexample, a unit

witha1kWpower input runfor

360 hrs will use 36 0 kWh, costing

about$79 at a rate of 22c/kWh.

Haiku by BigAssSolutions

Luxe Series 2.1m aircraft-grade

aluminiumceilingfan,$2995,

Big Ass Solutions.

Arlec Northera 120cm painted-

timberceilingfan with light,

$154, Bunnings.

AE3 127cm aerofoilAE3 127cm aerofoilceiling fan,ceiling fan

$519, AeroDC.