Dad saves on bills for three years—learn how he did it
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Living bill-free is a dream for many, but for Luke Spicer and his family, it's been a reality for the past three years.
Nestled in Sydney's northwest, the Spicer household is a testament to what can be achieved with smart design, technological investment, and a shift in daily habits.
They are part of an exclusive club of 'nil bill' homeowners who receive utility bills that don't demand a cent.
The journey to energy independence required a significant upfront investment and a strategic approach to household design and energy consumption.
The Spicer home in North Kellyville was built with extra insulation and positioned to take advantage of the winter sun while minimising the impact of the summer heat.
This thoughtful design reduced the need for artificial heating and cooling, often the heaviest energy consumers in a home.
However, the real game-changer for the Spicers was the installation of multiple solar panels and Tesla Powerwalls.
These generate electricity and store it, ensuring that the family has a continuous supply of power, even when the sun isn't shining.
Additionally, they installed rainwater tanks for multiple purposes, including filling the pool and watering the garden, further reducing their reliance on mains water supply.
Luke Spicer's expertise in the solar industry gave him an edge.
He could install some of the solar infrastructure, which saved costs, and his industry connections allowed him to secure a discount on the equipment.
The family also renegotiated their energy rates with their provider, ensuring they got the best possible deal.
However, the Spicers didn't just rely on their solar setup; they also adapted their energy consumption habits.
‘It’s about maximising the use of our production,’ Mr Spicer said.
‘We changed our habits to use dishwashers, aircon and all that during the day to draw the solar.’
‘Then at night time it’s low energy usage because of our use during the day, the aircon doesn’t have to work as hard.’
‘Just by changing how we use things, and when we use them, it maximises what we do.’
Their home generates more power than it uses, leading to monthly credits that offset their water consumption costs.
‘We estimate we will get the full return on our investment in about five or six years, but having energy independence now is a big factor for us,’ Mr Spicer added.
‘For us, it just makes total sense to use the abundance of sunlight we have. We don’t have to buy it from energy companies. When there’s a blackout, we are set up to keep running.’
Stefan Jarnason, CEO of Solar Analytics, notes that homeowners have been experimenting with creative energy-saving solutions.
‘We’ve seen a big increase in people looking to put solar panels on their roofs,’ he said.
‘We’ve also seen our solar customers taking the following actions to reduce their energy bills – swapping out their old gas hot water for an efficient heat pump hot water system; increasing the size of their solar system; switching to a cheaper electricity provider; or adding a solar battery so they can use their solar in the evening.’
‘To get to the nirvana of a nil bill home, people generally need to do three things. First, get a large solar system.’
‘We typically say just cover the roof. Second, shift your hot water and any large energy loads into the daytime. Finally, get a solar battery…the optimal size battery varies from 6kWh to 16kWh.’
In other news, a Melbourne family of three has cut their electricity bill to under $50 by adopting energy-saving strategies.
They turn off appliances at the switch when not in use, track their consumption with an app, and stay warm by dressing appropriately rather than using heaters. Learn more about their methods here.
Have you considered making your home more energy-efficient, or do you have your tips for reducing utility bills? Share your experiences and thoughts in the comments below.
Nestled in Sydney's northwest, the Spicer household is a testament to what can be achieved with smart design, technological investment, and a shift in daily habits.
They are part of an exclusive club of 'nil bill' homeowners who receive utility bills that don't demand a cent.
The journey to energy independence required a significant upfront investment and a strategic approach to household design and energy consumption.
The Spicer home in North Kellyville was built with extra insulation and positioned to take advantage of the winter sun while minimising the impact of the summer heat.
Thanks to home modifications and lifestyle changes, Luke Spicer from Sydney’s northwest has gone nearly three years without utility bills. Credit: Unsplash
This thoughtful design reduced the need for artificial heating and cooling, often the heaviest energy consumers in a home.
However, the real game-changer for the Spicers was the installation of multiple solar panels and Tesla Powerwalls.
These generate electricity and store it, ensuring that the family has a continuous supply of power, even when the sun isn't shining.
Additionally, they installed rainwater tanks for multiple purposes, including filling the pool and watering the garden, further reducing their reliance on mains water supply.
Luke Spicer's expertise in the solar industry gave him an edge.
He could install some of the solar infrastructure, which saved costs, and his industry connections allowed him to secure a discount on the equipment.
The family also renegotiated their energy rates with their provider, ensuring they got the best possible deal.
However, the Spicers didn't just rely on their solar setup; they also adapted their energy consumption habits.
‘It’s about maximising the use of our production,’ Mr Spicer said.
‘We changed our habits to use dishwashers, aircon and all that during the day to draw the solar.’
‘Then at night time it’s low energy usage because of our use during the day, the aircon doesn’t have to work as hard.’
‘Just by changing how we use things, and when we use them, it maximises what we do.’
Their home generates more power than it uses, leading to monthly credits that offset their water consumption costs.
‘We estimate we will get the full return on our investment in about five or six years, but having energy independence now is a big factor for us,’ Mr Spicer added.
‘For us, it just makes total sense to use the abundance of sunlight we have. We don’t have to buy it from energy companies. When there’s a blackout, we are set up to keep running.’
Stefan Jarnason, CEO of Solar Analytics, notes that homeowners have been experimenting with creative energy-saving solutions.
‘We’ve seen a big increase in people looking to put solar panels on their roofs,’ he said.
‘We’ve also seen our solar customers taking the following actions to reduce their energy bills – swapping out their old gas hot water for an efficient heat pump hot water system; increasing the size of their solar system; switching to a cheaper electricity provider; or adding a solar battery so they can use their solar in the evening.’
‘To get to the nirvana of a nil bill home, people generally need to do three things. First, get a large solar system.’
‘We typically say just cover the roof. Second, shift your hot water and any large energy loads into the daytime. Finally, get a solar battery…the optimal size battery varies from 6kWh to 16kWh.’
In other news, a Melbourne family of three has cut their electricity bill to under $50 by adopting energy-saving strategies.
They turn off appliances at the switch when not in use, track their consumption with an app, and stay warm by dressing appropriately rather than using heaters. Learn more about their methods here.
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