“Mother Nature’s Breeze Will Do”: Man’s Aircon Electricity Costs Intrigue the Internet

• Wes Reddy, a Johannesburg-based energy expert, shared the costs of running air conditioners during summer
• He provided a breakdown of cost details for the standard and inverter types of air conditioners
• Social media users appreciated the information and asked insightful questions surrounding the matter

Energy-saving expert Wes Reddy shared the cost of running an air conditioner in summer with South Africans, offering a detailed and helpful breakdown. He not only looked at the costs of the standard type but also those of inverters.

On 13 November, 2025, the Johannesburg man explored different BTUs (British Thermal Units), showing what it would cost per hour and for five hours per day over a month.

Standard type

9 000BTU: 0.9kW x R4

• R3.60 per hour
• R540 per month

12 000BTU: 1.3kW x R4

• R5.20 per hour
• R780 per month

18 000kW: 2.5kW x R4

• R10 per hour
• R1 500 per month

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Inverter type (30% cheaper)

9 000BTU: 0.96kW x R4

• R2.40 per hour
• R360 per month

12 000BTU: 0.9kW x R4

• R3.60 per hour
• R540 per month

18 000kW: 1.7kW x R4

• R6.80 per hour
• R1 020 per month

Aircon energy costs intrigue South Africans

A few members of the online community headed to the comment section with questions about the information Wes shared. Other internet users wanted Wes to provide information about other appliances similar to the air conditioner, such as a fan.

@sherwyd_23 wrote in the comments:

"The real question is, will a 9 000BTU operating at 21 degrees temperature on low/medium still apply to your costing? I was advised that the best power consumption (efficiency) is to run your air conditioner at 24 degrees on low for optimal use, but correct me if I am wrong. Really appreciate your videos."

Wes replied to the TikTok user:

"When I did the measurements, I ran the aircons at 18 degrees on the lowest cooling setting. I do agree with the 24-degree setting, but you have to make sure all doors and windows are closed and the air conditioner is sized correctly for the room."

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A curious @llusername13 wondered:

"Is the cost the same for both cooling and heating?"

@rivashramjathan shared their opinion under the post:

"Excellent explanation. If users increase the temperature to a comfortable level, it's possible to reduce those numbers significantly."

@anthonyputter1967 told internet users how they use the appliance:

"I have four air conditioners in my house and will only switch the one on where I'm sitting. I use them on 'climate control,' and it switches on and off by itself."

@thameshn asked in the comment section:

"What about the 24 000BTU?"

Wes responded to the app user:

"Runs at 3.5kW x R4, so R14 every hour it's on, 5 hours per day is R70, and R2 100 per month. This is some big energy usage."

@mir_mtz noted that they were perfectly fine cooling down at no cost, writing:

"Mother Nature's breeze will do for me. Thanks."

Watch the TikTok video posted on Wes's account below:

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3 Other energy-saving tips stories

• In another article, Briefly News reported that a South African woman used candles to cook her food rather than electricity. While the clip sparked laughter, it also highlighted creativity amid rising power costs.
• Wes showed South Africans how to reduce their electricity bills by switching from downlights to a table lamp. Online users requested similar cost-saving tips for other household appliances.
• Wes also compared electricity costs between air fryers and electric stoves, showing that one of the appliances saved money. Social media users appreciated the practical advice.

Source: Briefly News