Last Updated on April 3, 2025 by Tanya Janse van Rensburg
Move over smart TVs, smart air conditioners are the new internet-enabled technology on the block.
Whether you’re looking to upgrade your existing air conditioner or install a brand-new system as part of your latest renovation, it’s worth considering a smart air conditioner.
Smart air conditioners are fast becoming a favorite choice among homeowners looking for a cost-effective and sustainable HVAC solution.
This is due to their advanced automation capability and enhanced energy efficiency.
This article covers everything you need to know about smart air conditioning units to decide if they are a good option for your next home renovation.
Put simply, smart air conditioning units are air conditioners that can connect to the internet.
Because of this connectivity, homeowners can control smart air conditioning units remotely via a smartphone app.
Many of the latest cutting-edge air conditioning units also incorporate intelligent features.
Motion and temperature sensors can detect when a person has entered a room and adjust the temperature automatically.
Others have built-in sensors to issue an alert when the air conditioning filter is due for a cleaning.
Each manufacturer designs its smart air conditioners with a range of different features.
However, many core features are similar across different brands.
Below, we explore some standard features shared by smart air conditioners, whether you’re after ducted air conditioning Brisbane or reverse-cycle AC in Cape Town.
IoT is the core feature that sets smart air conditioners apart from traditional air conditioners.
It’s also what enables all other smart air conditioning features.
Unlike traditional air conditioners, which are controlled by a remote or a fixed panel on the wall, IoT connectivity means you can control your air conditioning from outside your home with just a few taps on your phone.
That means you can turn your AC on before you get home or off from the comfort of your bed.
Smart air conditioners can be programmed to operate automatically, either according to a schedule you pre-program or based on certain conditions, such as the outside temperature.
This takes the guesswork out of selecting the right setting, improving energy efficiency.
Some advanced models even use advanced AI to learn your regular usage patterns and adjust their programming accordingly.
As mentioned above, some newer smart air conditioner models even have built-in sensors that detect when a person has entered or left the room.
These sensors improve the system’s efficiency by automatically adjusting the temperature a few degrees away from the target if no one is in the room, meaning the system doesn’t have to work as hard.
Many smart air conditioners are also compatible with wall-mounted motion detection sensors, so if you’ve bought a smart AC unit without built-in sensors, you can add this functionality later on.
In the same way, smart air conditioners can be connected to motion sensors.
Smart AC units can be linked to temperature sensors and automatically programmed to turn on when the room reaches a specific temperature.
This gives you even more flexibility than time-based programming, as it ensures the AC only turns on when you need it.
One of the downsides of old-school ducted AC systems was the lack of flexibility regarding which room you wanted to be heated or cooled.
Smart air conditioning has overcome the ‘all or nothing’ problem. These systems now allow you to set ‘zones’ within the house.
That means you can perfectly calibrate the temperature in your rooms without wasting energy using the AC in unoccupied areas of the house.
Smart air conditioners are all about data-powered decision-making.
Smart AC apps let you track the amount of energy your AC uses, helping you to pick the most efficient setting for your needs.
Tracking your AC’s power usage is also a great way to identify potential problems with your unit, as increased energy consumption is often one of the first signs your unit needs servicing.
Many smart AC units also eliminate guesswork in regular maintenance tasks by providing alerts when the filter is due for a cleaning.
When choosing the right air conditioner, weighing the pros and cons is essential.
Here are three of the main benefits of energy-smart air conditioning:
Regarding energy efficiency, it’s hard to beat smart air conditioning.
Automated programming eliminates guesswork when setting the unit’s on/off schedule, mode, and fan speed, ensuring the most efficient settings for your chosen temperature.
Advanced zoning technology allows you to select which rooms you want to be cooled, at what temperature, and for how long.
This is especially handy if you have multiple people with different cooling preferences in one household!
At the outset, smart air conditioners might seem more expensive than older models.
However, energy-smart air conditioning can generate substantial savings.
Automatic programming decreases smart AC energy use, reducing your monthly running costs.
When you consider that AC units typically last 15 - 20 years, the savings add up quickly!
Smart air conditioners also help you keep on top of regular maintenance tasks, such as when it's time to clean the filter.
Keeping on top of these tasks can help prolong your unit's lifespan, saving you money in the long run.
In the past ten years, smart air conditioning units have become popular among homeowners looking for an energy-efficient way to stay cool through summer.
Their superior automation and zoning capabilities give you unparalleled control over your home comfort year-round while keeping your electricity consumption low.
So, if you’re in the market for a new AC system, it’s well worth checking out the latest smart air conditioning.
