Increasing temperatures in the Shire could cost us more than just hot days and restless nights

Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick explains how the Shire's spring climate is changing. Plus, what is the true cost of warmer weather?

EMERGING from winter is usually something to celebrate.

We can finally abandon our heavy winter layers, turn the heaters off, and enjoy the mild weather before the sweltering heat of summer arrives.

However, data from the Bureau of Meteorology suggests springtime temperatures in the Shire may not provide the gentle transition into summer they once did.

Back in 1970, a typical spring night sat around 12 degrees.

Nowadays, it's more like 15 degrees – that’s more than two degrees warmer than 50 years ago.

Overnight temperatures haven’t just risen in the Shire - they are increasing nationwide.

The cost of warmer evenings:

Incessantly hot days and nights are not just unbearable, they're costly too.

Warmer temperatures mean we will have to increasingly rely on air conditioning.

This translates to higher electricity usage.

Not only that, more frequent extreme weather events are disrupting electricity supplies.

And as our electricity demand starts to outstrip supply, electricity prices increase.

So how can we keep cool?

According to Canstar, a reverse cycle, split system air conditioner typically costs 60 cents an hour to run.

This adds up - using your air conditioner four hours a day through the warmer months can increase your quarterly power bill by around $200.

A ceiling or portable fan can be a more economical option, costing less than five cents an hour to run.

However, fans are typically less effective than reverse cycle air conditioners.

With the latest

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report predicting a warmer climate in the coming decades, these added cooling costs may leave many to suffer in the heat.

Local perspective on rising temperatures:

Want more information on how your climate is changing? Check out the last article in this series.

Dr Sarah Perkins-Kirkpatrick is a climate scientist at the University of New South Wales.

This column is part of a collaboration between Monash University and News Corp to deliver hyperlocal weather and climate information.