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A reverse cycle air conditioner is the most cost-effective and energy efficient way to heat or cool your home

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On average, households spend up to $800 a year, or a third of their energy bill, on heating. Those with gas heaters are paying even more and this is predicted to get worse as gas prices rise. Gas heating can have negative health impacts too.

A split system, or reverse cycle air conditioner is the most cost-effective and energy efficient way to heat or cool your home.

By replacing old heating and cooling systems with more energy-efficient ones or simply installing new energy-efficient heating and cooling, you can save on energy bills and make your home safer and more comfortable. You can save even more if you have solar.

Types of efficient heating and cooling

Reverse cycle air conditioners have an indoor and outdoor unit. There are single-head systems to heat and cool individual rooms, multi-head systems that connect multiple indoor units to a single outdoor unit and ducted whole-of-home systems.

Ducted systems are less efficient than single- or multi-head systems, so they can be more expensive to run.

A good installer will be able to help you navigate the various options to meet your heating, cooling and energy efficiency needs.

The Victorian Government has created a handy factsheet to assist you in selecting the right type and size of reverse cycle air conditioner.

Costs of heating and cooling

The upfront cost of reverse cycle air conditioners is only half the story. Running costs will vary according to the location, size of the unit and its star rating, so invest in the best system you can afford and good advice.

The more stars, the more energy efficient a unit and the more you will save over time.

Sustainability Victoria shows annual cost for heating a medium room with a 3-star reverse cycle air conditioner as $287 compared with $579 for a gas heater.

Upgrade with Solar Savers

We have partnered with Solar Savers, a council-backed initiative that has already done the hard work when buying.

Solar Savers offers a number of different brands of reverse cycle split systems to fit your home and budget. View the estimated prices.

Register through the Yarra Solar Savers page and receive up to three quotes from trusted, accredited suppliers.

Discounts and government support

The Victorian Government offers discounts for households and businesses to install reverse cycle air conditioning. Make sure your installer is an accredited provider and visit their website to find out how much discount you can expect.

The Yarra Home Energy Upgrades program provides subsidies up to $3,000 for reverse cycle air conditioners and other energy upgrades to eligible Yarra concession card holders.

Living in a rental property?

A number of regulations have come into effect, or will be coming soon, requiring efficient heating and cooling for rental properties. Visit Consumer Affairs Victoria to see if these standards apply to your home.

Private rental properties are eligible to receive a discount on a heating and cooling system. We recommend that landlords and tenants work together when doing any upgrades to a rental property.

Find out more at Victorian Energy Upgrades information for renters, landlords and body corporate.

Electric home webinars

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