How to Save Energy Without Compromising Your Cooling Comfort in the UAE

If you live in the UAE, cooling is a year-round necessity, especially in the summer. For those connected to a district cooling system, maintaining comfort while saving energy is all about smart settings, proper insulation, and regular maintenance of your fan coil units and controls. Here are some expert tips, adapted from Aquacool’s recommendations, to help you enjoy efficient cooling without higher bills.

1. Set & Control the Right Temperature

Keep your thermostat set to around 24°C for the best balance of comfort and efficiency. Each degree lower can increase chilled water consumption by up to 5%. Avoid frequent adjustments; let your thermostat maintain a steady temperature to prevent unnecessary demand on the district cooling network.

2. Upgrade to Smart Controls

A smart thermostat can help you schedule cooling based on occupancy and usage patterns. Models like Emizmart even let you manage settings remotely and optimise cooling automatically. This ensures your home is comfortable when needed, and saves energy when it’s empty.

3. Keep Your Space Well-Sealed & Insulated

Even with district cooling, poor insulation can lead to wasted chilled air. Check the sealing of doors and windows, and consider using blackout curtains or reflective window films to block heat gain from the sun. Well-insulated spaces reduce the workload on your fan coil units, lowering energy use.

4. Schedule Regular Fan Coil Unit Maintenance

District cooling doesn’t require outdoor compressor checks, but your indoor fan coil units need regular servicing to ensure top performance. Ask your facility manager or a licensed HVAC technician to:

• Clean air filters & diffusers regularly.
• Clean fan coil motors & blades for optimal airflow.
• Inspect and clean chilled water strainers.
• Check air vent connections & chilled water pipelines for leaks or blockages.
• Ensure actuators are functioning correctly for balanced and even cooling.

5. Balance and Optimise Cooling

If you notice uneven cooling in different rooms, upgrading to the latest Pressure Independent Control Valve (PICV) actuators can help maintain even chilled water distribution throughout your home. This keeps every room at the right temperature while avoiding wasted cooling capacity.

By following these district cooling–friendly steps, you’ll stay cool, save energy, and extend the life of your equipment-all while supporting smarter energy use in your community.

Book maintenance before peak summer to avoid downtime and ensure everything runs efficiently when you need it most!