Thinking of installing air conditioning or replacing your existing system? With rising electricity prices, keeping a cap on your air conditioning running costs are an important consideration. You also need to factor in the cost of purchasing a unit of the correct size and work out how much installation will be. So how much does air conditioning installation cost? This article will give you an idea of who can legally install your system and what they may charge. There are basically three types of air conditioning systems on the market: Portable: portable air con units are versatile in that they can be placed anywhere with a plug/power outlet. They are however limited in their output and generally only suitable for a single room. Split systems: the most common type of air con system, which consist of an (internal) head unit and (external) condensor/compressor. These are relatively affordable though coverage is on a per room basis. Split air conditioning unit © Evolve Air Conditioning

Ducted systems: these are integrated into your home’s ceiling and wall cavity, and are designed for whole home heating & cooling. They are visually less intrusive than a split system, but do cost more to purchase and install. Read more: Ducted Air Con vs Split Systems Ducted air conditioning outlet integrated into a wall © Air Elite Airconditioning and Electrical Services You will need to work out what capacity air conditioner you need. Factors to consider include: The size of your home: The larger the floor area, the larger capacity your unit will need to be. If you have a multi-storey home then may require a number of units for different zones, which will add to the total cost. Ceiling height: If you have high ceilings your unit will need to generate enough cool air to maintain a comfortable temperature in each room. Number of windows: Windows can account for up to 40 per cent of a home’s heat loss, so you need to account for this when choosing an air conditioning system.

Read more: How much does air conditioning cost to run?Because air conditioning installers handle refrigerants, the Australian Refrigeration Council (ARC) requires all installers and technicians to hold either a full Refrigeration & Air Conditioning licence or a restricted licence that allows them to only install split system air conditioners.wall mounted air conditioner unit A number of different tradies could undertake an installation for you, including dedicated ducted air conditioning installers, licensed plumbers who can install, maintain and repair piping, ducting as well as licensed electricians who can install the master control panels and any wiring that is required.fix central air conditioning unit #hiptip: All tradies who install air conditioning need to be licensed to carry this work out in your homewhat makes an ac unit freeze up

Roof-mounted compressor unit © Air Elite Airconditioning and Electrical Services A number of factors will influence your final quote, specifically the: Expect to spend a few hundred to a few thousand dollars or more for an air conditioning unit. A portable unit may cost around $500, while a new split system unit can start from $900. The price you pay depends on the unit’s kilowatt capacity. If the unit has a higher energy output, it will cost more than a unit with a lower output. If you live in a small space – such as a studio apartment – a portable unit can be more affordable than a split system. For an idea of prices (excluding installation) for a variety of systems, expect to pay in the region: #hiptip: Always get at least three written quotes before you decide to hire a business Installing a wall-mounted head unit Once you’ve chosen your air conditioner, you’ll need to get it installed. The rate you pay depends on several factors, including where you live, the air conditioner you’ve chosen, how many units you’re installing and the ease of access on your property.

Air conditioning installers charge by the hour - expect to be charged anywhere from $60 - $110 per hour + GST for domestic air conditioning and $80 - $140 per hour + GST for commercial units. For a wall hung split type air conditioning system, expect to be charged: If you are installing a reverse ducted air conditioning system, some typical prices quoted online (unit + installation) are: Before hiring an air conditioning installer, it’s wise to get quotes from several providers. After you’ve compared quotes, ensure you understand how much the installer is going to charge. And given the importance of correct installation, always choose a reputable air conditioner installer who is licensed, insured and can provide referrals. The best way of finding out the cost of your air con project is to get quotes from local air conditioning installers. This will give you a sense of what market rates currently are. * All the costs and prices quoted were sourced at the time this article was written.

They are indicative, may vary locally, are subject to market forces and should only be used as a guide. Ducted Air Con FAQ, How Does Solar Air Conditioning Work? ​are faltering​ and ocean temperatures are rising​. As this climate change trend continues and the Islands get hotter, focus once again turns to installing air conditioning in classrooms. HIDOE is not against installing AC — in 2015 there are 17 AC-related projects on Oahu alone being installed, from a new school (Hookele Elementary in Kapolei) to a new classroom building at Ewa Elementary to a series of building retrofittings. As funding is released by the state for these projects, we will continue to whittle away our lengthy project list.However, our goal is to make all classrooms thermally comfortable in a sustainable fashion — using fact-based, data-driven methodologies that lead to effective solutions. Here are the challenges we face in addressing classroom cooling. Challenge 1: Our Budget The estimated cost of installing air conditioning and related infrastructure improvements at the schools that don’t have campus-wide AC was determined by using both the estimated and actual cost (where available) of recent projects and includes both design and construction costs.

For example, the cost of air conditioning and related infrastructure upgrades at Pohakea Elementary School was $4.3 million when bids opened for the project in 2010. That equals about $110,000/classroom. Pohakea is one of our smaller elementary schools with an enrollment of 573 students in 2014. By comparison, August Ahrens in Waipahu, which is one of our largest elementary schools, has over 1,400 students. Based on this actual bid result, accounting for inflation since 2010, and adjusting for the various school sizes, we have estimated that the cost to air condition the average elementary school is $5 million.The cost estimates for both middle and high schools were calculated in a similar fashion across the number and type of schools that need cooling. Total = $1.695 billion (Note: Combination elementary/intermediate schools were classified as middle schools; combination elementary/high schools were classified as high schools. We do have a cost estimate for Campbell High from 2010 which came in at over $13 million.)

HIDOE has been piloting newer technology that could bring down the costs. Of the most promising is photovoltaic air conditioning (PV/AC). A portable classroom at Waianae High School is into its second year running a system using three PV panels for each air conditioning unit. However, there are limitations to how widespread PV/AC may be deployed — it's not a good fit for many multi-story buildings, and new funds will be needed to lease/purchase and install them. HIDOE's Facilities office is analyzing how many more could be added to our schools.​We are also running pilots around portable classrooms withThere are more upfront costs in the materials and construction related to standard portables, but can save more in the long run thanks to "grid free" energy production and use. Challenge 2: Infrastructure/Electrical SystemsThe majority of Hawaii’s schools are more than 50 years old. As a result, many buildings do not have adequate electrical capacity to accommodate the increasing use of electronics including computers, and other high demand infrastructure such as air conditioning. 

HIDOE tackles a number of projects every year to upgrade the electrical supply and infrastructure at various schools. Because of the age of many of our schools, their electrical systems reflect a bygone era — they weren't designed to support today's high level of energy demand, requiring major upgrades. In many neighborhoods, even the supply from the utility is inadequate. An elementary school recently bought air conditioners without the proper electrical upgrades and blew a circuit. Electricians, electrical engineers and knowledgeable contractors will tell you it is important to ensure you have the correct infrastructure before adding more than the system can handle. Challenge 3: Building Improvements Just as our older schools were not built to meet current levels of electrical use, the buildings were also not designed to be airtight. This stems from the fact that it was important for air to move through the buildings in a naturally ventilated environment. However, for an air conditioning system to function effectively, the building envelope needs to be sealed, requiring replacement of windows (typically jalousies) and doors, among other things.​

While the initial cost of the air conditioning itself is substantial, there are other continuing costs to operate the system that must be taken into account. Factor 1: Cost of ElectricityEven if you don’t factor in the cost of the units and installation there is the cost that air conditioning adds to the Department’s electricity bill. When AC was installed at Pohakea Elementary School, the power bill more than doubled. Currently, the Department is expected to face an electricity bill of $47.6 million this year.​ The chart below shows ongoing costs of all HIDOE utilities, including electricity; we have a number of initiatives that encourage reducing and softening our usage and that keeps costs relatively flat. However, year-over-year funding of utilities from the Legislature is dropping. That makes it that difficult to run the utilities we have, let alone add to the bill.There are some promising technologies that we have mentioned that can help reduce the cost of our electricity bill.