The following types of air conditioners are available as cooling only or reverse cycle units.

Split systems

* Suitable for one or more rooms up to 60 metres2

Split systems are fixed units with separate indoor and outdoor sections connected by refrigerant piping. Indoor units may be wall, floor or ceiling mounted. Split systems are more expensive to purchase than window/wall units but produce less room noise and are usually more energy efficient than window/wall units.

Ducted systems

* Suitable for whole house, central or zoned system.
* Generally less efficient than split or fascia unit.

Ducted systems should be zoned to allow cooling of different areas at different times. This can improve efficiency and reduce running costs. Your home can be divided into a day zone (living areas) and a night zone (bedrooms).

Inverter (variable speed drive) technology is used to control the compressor motor in some air conditioners.This conserves energy by matching the motor power to the air conditioning load requiremnts.

Source: Sustainable Energy Victoria