Regular maintenance and cleaning of ACs can improve their efficacy and reduce energy consumption. The outdoor unit should be kept free from leaves or debris for better air circulation. Clean or replace air filters regularly.
Poor insulation can make your ACs less effective. If the door to your attached bathroom is open, or there is a crack in the window allowing cold air to seep out, your room won't be easily cooled. Make these small fixes for ACs to function more efficiently.
Look out for any signs of air leaks and use thick curtains to block the sunlight from entering the room directly. This will cool down your room temperature efficiently.
If the vents point to the centre of the room, it will ensure faster cooling. Don't keep ACs in an oscillating setting - whereby the vents oscillate - until and unless the space is too huge.
It is said that with each degree your AC setting is higher, you end up saving a lot of money. So instead of a 17-18 degree, look for the highest temperature that will keep you comfortable. Temperatures between 23 and 26 are usually considered ideal.
Once you set a timer, the AC will be switched off automatically once the room reaches the desired temperature. This is especially helpful for nights when people are sleeping and therefore can't monitor AC temperatures.
If your AC has an energy saver mode, use that. This will keep your bills in check and save energy even though cooling the room might take a bit more time.
Using fans with AC can help cool down your room faster and you can then turn off the AC. Rely on natural ventilation and fans during cooler parts of the day so that the room is not extremely hot.
If you are still using incandescent and halogen bulbs, replace them with LED ones. Incandescent and halogen bulbs emit heat and make rooms warmer.
Don't cover your outdoor AC units with plants and make sure the AC condenser is located under a shade and has enough space to dispose of heat.