logo
The secret to cheaper AC in Abu Dhabi? Set it to this temperature

The secret to cheaper AC in Abu Dhabi? Set it to this temperature

Summer temperatures are creeping in from angles, so it's that time of year when we all start thinking about our air conditioning (and the AC bill that goes with it).
There are a lot of myths that need de-bunking when it comes to AC in the UAE, from running costs to the most effective maintenance.
Many a debate has been had over whether it's cheaper to keep your AC on constant or switch it off when you're out, or how often you should have it checked.
Then there's the golden question, what is the most cost-effective temperature to keep your AC on?
To help sort fact from fiction, Time Out spoke to Thomas Speed, General Manager at Breathe, a home and maintenance company for AC in Dubai, who was able to shine a light on things.
Q&A: How to cut down on your bill for AC in the UAE
If you're heading on holiday, should you leave your AC on or off?
To turn off or not to turn off, that is the question (Credit: Shutterstock)
'Leave your AC on. Not only do you not want to come home to a greenhouse but allowing the heat and summer humidity to get inside can start the process of damp and mould.
'On the flip side of this, installing smart thermostats can also allow you to track and change the AC from your mobile phone whilst away on holiday or long business trips.
'This can allow you to maybe turn it on and off throughout the day but again this is not the most energy-efficient way of running your AC.'
What is the most cost-effective temperature to have your AC on?
The secret to cheaper AC in Dubai
DEWA (Dubai Electricity and Water Authority) recommends a temperature of 24 degrees Celsius during the summer to be the most cost-effective; however, Speed suggested a temperature of 22 to 23 degrees would be preferred.
Speed also explained that to be most cost-effective, you need to make sure your AC isn't stopping and starting on automatic mode.
He said: 'In the summer you may find a temperature of 22-23 degrees Celsius comfortable within the home, but if your fan sounds like it's always stopping and starting the balance is incorrect.
'I would advise to drop the temperature down 1 degree at a time on the thermostat. Run your fan speed at low to medium, and only increase when you need a quick blast of cool air.
'Keeping the fan speed on at a lower speed ultimately will allow the component parts of the AC to last longer and also use less power than running everything at maximum.'
Can you save money by having your AC on a few degrees higher for a few hours?
'This is not entirely true, as this means that you still have your AC on during the day. It will still work in exactly the same way as when it's trying to cool at a lower temperature.'
Does closing curtains and doors have an impact on AC running costs?
'Yes, a great option is to install a blackout lining behind the curtain as well. This will stop heat radiation penetrating the rooms and allow the AC system to work with minimal input, keeping your rooms and walls at a constant temperature suitable for comfortable living.'
Summer in Abu Dhabi
The 27 best things to do indoors this summer in Abu Dhabi
It's time for some air-conditioned bliss
The best things to do this weekend in Abu Dhabi
Your full weekend itinerary
25 brilliant beach and pool day passes in Abu Dhabi
Grab your SPF – a lush day by the water awaits
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Turkey evacuates thousands as firefighters battle wildfires
Turkey evacuates thousands as firefighters battle wildfires

Dubai Eye

time3 hours ago

  • Dubai Eye

Turkey evacuates thousands as firefighters battle wildfires

Firefighters battled wildfires across Turkey on Sunday amid a searing Mediterranean heat-wave, with authorities evacuating more than 3,600 people from settlements in two provinces. Wildfires in the southern provinces of Mersin and Antalya as well as the central province of Usak were largely brought under control, but blazes in the northwestern province of Bursa and the northern province of Karabuk were still burning, Agriculture and Forestry Minister Ibrahim Yumakli told reporters. A wildfire broke out in a forested area between the Gursu and Kestel districts of Bursa, home to much of Turkey's auto industry, on Saturday. Part of a highway connecting Istanbul with the western city of Izmir was briefly closed on Saturday night due to the fire. Huge flames engulfed trees in areas close to homes in Bursa as smoke covered the sky over the city, footage showed. Some 1,765 people in Bursa's Kestel district were evacuated, Yumakli said, adding that 2,000 firefighters were struggling to battle the wildfire in the area with the help of six firefighting planes and four helicopters. In the northern province of Karabuk, where a large wildfire has been burning for five days, 1,839 people in 19 villages were evacuated, Yumakli said. Three planes and 16 helicopters are tackling the blazes in the area amid difficult conditions, he added. "We are going through risky times. This does not seem likely to end in two or three days," Yumakli said, referring to the heat-wave. Temperatures in several regions in Turkey were forecast to reach over 40 degrees Celsius on Sunday, 6 to 12 degrees above seasonal norms, Turkey's meteorological service said, as thermometers hit 50 degrees Celsius in the country's southeast on Saturday for the first time in recorded history.

Greece battles wildfires across country, evacuates villages
Greece battles wildfires across country, evacuates villages

Dubai Eye

time11 hours ago

  • Dubai Eye

Greece battles wildfires across country, evacuates villages

Firefighters were battling wildfires across Greece and the Western Balkans on Saturday as the south of Europe sweltered under the third heatwave of the summer, with some villages and settlements being evacuated in Greece and Albania. Explosions could be heard as huge clouds of smoke covered Drosopigi village 25 km north of Athens, where factories with flammable material are located. Helicopters dropped water and 145 firefighters battled the flames, assisted by 44 vehicles, seven helicopters and 10 aircraft. Two houses caught fire while residents of the nearby village Krioneri were instructed by authorities to leave towards Athens. Five people were taken to hospitals over burns and smoke inhalation. Temperatures in Greece were forecast to reach up to 44 degrees Celsius on Saturday, the Greek weather service said. "In the last 24 hours alone, 52 agroforestry fires broke out, 44 of which were dealt with immediately, in their initial stage," said Vassilios Vathrakogiannis, a spokesperson for the Fire Brigade. In neighbouring Albania, 26 fires broke out throughout the country on Saturday, following a large fire near the southern Albanian town of Delvina on Friday which injured three people and forced the evacuation of about 2,000 residents. PEOPLE RESCUED FROM BEACHES On the Greek island of Evia, 128 firefighters and 29 vehicles were deployed to put out fires, assisted by six aircraft and seven helicopters, but strong winds were hampering their efforts. Residents of the island's Triada area were evacuated while two fire trucks were damaged and five firefighters injured during the operation. The fire on Evia is the latest in a series of bushfires stoked by strong winds and dry conditions this month. On the island of Kythera, residents from several settlements were evacuated to safe areas and Coast Guard forces said they rescued 138 people, including an infant, from the beach of Limnionas near the area of the fire. In the area of Messinia, south of Athens, residents of the Kryoneri and Sellas villages were also told to leave. These sites were on a list of Greek regions on high alert for wildfires due to record-breaking temperatures and strong winds due on Saturday. In Kosovo, authorities managed to extinguish 17 blazes fuelled by strong winds while 12 others remained active, officials said. In the southern town of Prizren, a fire engulfed a farm, killing eight cows, according to local emergency services. Local media reported that a separate fire in eastern Kosovo killed around 40 sheep. Greece and other Mediterranean countries are in an area dubbed "a wildfire hotspot" by scientists, with blazes common during hot and dry summers. These have become more destructive in recent years due to a fast-changing climate, prompting calls for a new approach.

Greece gets EU help to battle disastrous wildfires
Greece gets EU help to battle disastrous wildfires

Al Etihad

time12 hours ago

  • Al Etihad

Greece gets EU help to battle disastrous wildfires

27 July 2025 10:49 ATHENS (AFP)Greece battled wildfires that have ravaged homes and sparked evacuations for a second day on Sunday, with the help of Czech firefighters and Italian aircraft expected to arrive fronts were raging Sunday morning in the Peloponnese area west of the capital, as well as on the islands of Evia and Kythera, with aircraft and helicopters resuming their work in several parts of the country at predicted the strong winds that have fanned the flames would die down on Sunday in most areas, but warned that Kythera continued to face "worrying" windy messages were sent to people on the island, which lies off the south-eastern tip of the Peloponnese, early on Sunday as the fire was raging of firefighters supported by three helicopters and two aircraft were battling the Kythera blaze, which erupted Saturday morning and forced the evacuation of a popular tourist regions of Greece still face a very high fire risk, according to officials. Greece has endured heatwave conditions for almost a week, with temperatures passing 40 degrees Celsius in many areas, though the heat is expected to die down from Monday.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store