In summer, air conditioning is the biggest contributor to your electricity bill. But how much it actually costs depends much less on the model and much more on how you use it. Same machine, same room: between those who know how to manage it and those who don't, the difference at the end of the season can be significant.
Fortunately, reducing consumption doesn't require expensive interventions. A few habits are enough, almost all of them free of charge. Here you will find the 10 most effective practical tips to reduce consumption without sacrificing coolness; many come directly from the recommendations of ENEA, the national energy agency.
1. Set the right temperature: 24–26 °C
This is the most important tip of all, and also the most ignored. The temptation, when returning home hot, is to set the air conditioner to 20 degrees hoping to cool down faster. It doesn't work that way, and it's expensive.
ENEA recommends keeping the thermostat between 24 and 26 °C in summer. Every degree lower, in fact, increases consumption by about 6–8%. This means that going from 26 to 22 degrees can increase spending by 25-30%, with the added risk of getting sick from the thermal shock. The ideal difference with the outside is about 6-7 degrees. At 26 °C, you feel comfortable and spend much less.
2. Use night mode (sleep)
At night, body temperature drops, and the need for coolness decreases. Night mode or "sleep" takes advantage of exactly this: it gradually raises the set temperature while you sleep, following the natural drop in body temperature.
The result is twofold. You sleep better, without the cold draft at four in the morning, and the air conditioner works less precisely during the hours when full power is not needed. It's one of those functions that almost everyone has and almost no one uses.
3. Use dehumidification on humid days
Often the problem is not the heat itself, but the humidity. On those sticky but not scorching days, dehumidification mode (DRY) is the best choice.
It removes humidity from the air, making you feel cooler, but it consumes less than full cooling mode because the compressor works in reduced cycles. When it's not 35 degrees outside but the air is heavy, try DRY before blasting the cold at maximum. Comfort improves and your bill thanks you.
4. Don't turn it off and on continuously
This is a myth to debunk. Many people turn off the air conditioner as soon as the room is cool, convinced they are saving money, only to turn it back on shortly after. With today's inverter air conditioners, this is counterproductive.
The inverter is designed to maintain a constant temperature by modulating power to a minimum. Each restart, however, forces it to start again at full power to bring the room back to temperature, and it is precisely during those moments that it consumes the most. If you are entering and leaving the room within a short period, it is better to leave it on at a sensible temperature rather than constantly turning it off and on.
5. Keep doors and windows closed (and shaded from the sun)
It seems obvious, but it's one of the most common wastes. Cooling a room with the window slightly open is like filling a leaky bucket with water: the air conditioner works in vain and never reaches the desired temperature.
During use, keep doors and windows closed. And while you're at it, lower blinds or curtains during direct sunlight hours: a shaded room heats up much less, and the air conditioner has half the work to do. In the evening, when the outside air cools down, turning it off and airing out is often better than insisting with the machine.
6. Clean the filters regularly
This advice saves real money. Dust-clogged filters block airflow and force the air conditioner to work harder. According to ENEA, a neglected system can consume up to 30% more than factory values.
Additionally, there's a health issue: mold and bacteria can nest in dirty filters, and breathing that air every day is not ideal. Cleaning the indoor unit's filters is a simple operation, to be done every two to four weeks during periods of intense use. Ten minutes that translate into less consumption and cleaner air.
7. Do not skip periodic maintenance
In addition to DIY filter cleaning, the system needs periodic checks by a technician. The refrigerant gas check, in particular, is important: a leaking circuit makes the machine less efficient and increases consumption without you realizing it.
Regular maintenance keeps the air conditioner efficient over time and extends its life. It's a small expense that pays off, both on your bill and by avoiding more costly breakdowns later on.
8. Start with correct sizing
An air conditioner with the wrong power consumes more than it should, by definition. If it's undersized, it runs at maximum all the time without ever getting the job done; if it's oversized, it turns on and off continuously, wasting energy with each restart.
This is why choosing the right BTUs, made at the time of purchase, is itself a great money-saving tip. If you have doubts about the right power for your room, we have prepared a dedicated guide with a table and factors to consider: how many BTUs are needed for each room.
9. Aim for a high energy class
If you are about to buy, the energy class is the investment that most affects future consumption. Also according to ENEA, an A+++ class model consumes up to 40% less than a B class one, with the same performance.
In practical terms: an efficient air conditioner costs a little more to buy, but if you use it many hours a day, the difference pays for itself in just a few seasons. SEER and SCOP values also count, the two indices that measure real efficiency in cooling and heating; the higher they are, the less you spend. Among the efficient models on Worldclima, you will find several in double A+++ class.
10. Schedule on and off times
The last smart habit is to use the air conditioner only when truly necessary. The timer and Wi-Fi functions are for exactly this: you can set it to turn off automatically after you fall asleep, or turn on the machine from your smartphone shortly before returning home instead of letting it run all day in an empty house.
Keeping the air conditioner on "to find it cool" when no one is home is one of the quietest and most expensive wastes. Programming it well means paying only for the coolness you use.
How much can you save, in concrete terms
By putting these tips together, the savings are not theoretical. An air conditioner consumes an average of between 0.3 and 1 kWh per hour depending on power and efficiency, and over an entire summer, the bill can vary considerably depending on how you manage it. Between using it at 22 degrees with dirty filters and using it at 26 with regular maintenance, the difference at the end of the season amounts to tens of euros, sometimes more.
None of these tips require sacrifices. It's just about using the air conditioner with a bit of thought, achieving the same comfort with less consumption. And if it's time to replace your old appliance, starting with an efficient model is the best way to spend less from day one.