Inverter changes the rules: why you shouldn’t always turn off the air conditioner

New tests showed: modern inverter air conditioner sometimes it is more profitable not to turn it off, but to leave it running at 24–26°C. But there are important conditions.

Every summer the same ritual is repeated: a person leaves the house and turns off the air conditioner so that “he doesn’t burn electricity in vain.” But with modern inverter models, this habit does not always work as everyday logic suggests.

Based on the practical test described in New York Times and retold by the Greek Naftemporiki, in some cases, the air conditioner consumes less energy if it works steadily all day, rather than turning off for several hours and then again trying to quickly cool a hot apartment.

In the experiment, two identical installations were used 12,000 BTU in two different apartments of the same apartment building. On the first day, the air conditioners were turned off at noon and turned on again at 17:00. On the second day they were left to work all day. On the street both days it was about 34°C.

What the test showed

In an apartment with a southern orientation, the consumption was 18 kWh on a day when the air conditioner was turned off and on again. During continuous operation, consumption decreased to 12 kWh. Savings – about 33%.

In the second, smaller apartment the difference was more modest: 12 kWh against 11 kWh. That is, miracles did not happen, but the idea of ​​“turning it off – definitely saving” also fell apart. This is how technology once again spoiled beautiful folk wisdom.

The main reason is the operating principle of the inverter air conditioner. It is often more profitable for him to maintain a stable temperature than to then cool an overheated room at full power. Especially if the walls, floor and furniture have already accumulated heat.

24–26°C is more important than 21°C

The strongest results were not produced by a constant 21–22°C, but by a more moderate setting. When the air conditioners were left running 26°Cconsumption dropped sharply: in one apartment – to 3 kWh, in another – to about 2 kWh per day.

The conclusion is simple: if it’s hot at home, it’s better not to turn the apartment into a refrigerator. For most rooms the mode 24–26°C provides normal comfort and noticeably lower consumption.

Athens News has previously written that every degree drop in temperature below 26°C can significantly increase electricity consumption. How much does electricity cost to use an air conditioner?.

When is the best time to turn it off?

Leaving the air conditioner on all day doesn’t always make sense. This works primarily for modern inverter models, normal thermal insulation and moderate temperature on the remote control.

If the air conditioner is old, without an inverter, the apartment is poorly insulated, the windows are open or the temperature is set to 18–20°C, constant operation may result not in savings, but in the bill, after which you want to live in the basement, but without air conditioning.

If you’re leaving for the whole day, a smart option is not to freeze your empty apartment, but to set the air conditioner to 26-27°C or use a timer. If you go away for an hour or two in extreme heat, it is often more profitable to leave a modern inverter on.

For comparison, a regular 50–60 W fan, when running 24/7, consumes approximately 36–43 kWh per month and remains much cheaper than an air conditioner, although it does not replace cooling in extreme heat. How much does it cost to operate a fan in Greece?.

Main conclusion

A modern inverter air conditioner does not necessarily need to be turned off every time you leave the house. Sometimes stable operation at 24–26°C is more economical than abruptly cooling an overheated apartment after returning.

But there is no universal rule. It all depends on the model, area, window orientation, thermal insulation and set temperature. Savings start not with the “off” button, but with the normal setting. As usual, civilization has reached a simple conclusion through the electricity meter.

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