Homeowners are abandoning gas and saving big—find out how they’re doing it!
- Replies 0
As Aussie homeowners look for ways to lower their carbon footprint and reduce energy bills, a shift away from gas is taking place in suburbs across the country.
With more Australians embracing electric alternatives, the landscape of home energy efficiency is evolving.
Here's a closer look at how this trend is reshaping Australian homes.
Across Australia, homeowners were making the switch from gas to electric, all in the name of reducing their carbon footprint and cutting energy costs.
In a trend that is gaining momentum, many Australians were choosing to go fully electric, replacing gas systems with energy-efficient, eco-friendly alternatives.
Melbourne resident Grace Mitchell shared her experience, explaining, ‘getting off gas was about minimising our use of fossil fuels and trying to maximise our use of renewable energy’.
She added, ‘A few years ago we decided we wanted to do a renovation of the house, so those things lined up… It was good timing now to go through and make the house much more energy efficient’.
By ditching gas, Grace and her family saved the cost of the daily connection fee while also making their home more thermally efficient.
The significant renovation of their 1919 weatherboard cottage included replacing gas-powered heating and cooling systems with reverse-cycle air-conditioning, swapping gas cooking for an induction cooktop and electric oven, and replacing gas hot water with an electric heat pump.
Grace mentioned: ‘We’re saving a dollar a day on just not having a gas connection,’ explaining that even their instant hot water was the only remaining gas-powered appliance in the home.
She recalled their last gas bill: ‘I think it was over a 60-day period, we had $60 for gas connection and about $20 worth of actual gas use’.
She also highlighted how upgrading their older home was more financially sensible than moving to a new one, given the hefty costs of buying and selling property.
‘Just buying and selling the house… with stamp duty and everything, you’re going to drop $100,000 just shifting if you’ve got an average house in Melbourne. So you can do quite a lot on your existing house if you kind of think of it like that’, she said.
Grace joined a social media group called My Efficient Home, which had grown to more than 140,000 members, to share tips on improving home comfort and energy efficiency.
‘I have been working to this over the last years gradually replacing appliances as I could afford to do so,’ another group member shared.
‘Some people have been able to do a house renovation and then complete the work in one go,’ they added.
Australia led the world in rooftop solar penetration, with many Australians considering solar energy as part of their shift to more sustainable homes.
Grace also expressed interest in upgrading her solar system in the future, saying: ‘In the future we’ll think about upgrading our solar…and potentially a battery,’ commenting on the new $2.3 billion subsidy program for home battery installations offered by the federal government after their recent election win.
Research by Energy Consumers Australia found that over 50 per cent of Aussie homeowners had considered cutting their gas connection entirely in recent years.
In a 2023 survey by the Australian Institute, 55 per cent of respondents felt positively about electrifying their homes, although the upfront cost remained a barrier to many.
The push for electrification had become a significant trend as Australians increasingly embraced new electric technology, with gas becoming less appealing in the face of rising environmental awareness and energy costs.
While more Australians took the leap, others joined them in embracing the future of energy-efficient, all-electric homes—proof that going electric was a growing movement in Aussie homes.
In a previous story, we explored how simple changes around the home could significantly cut your energy costs.
If you’re looking to further lower your bills, understanding which appliances are draining your energy is key.
Be sure to check out the full breakdown on these energy-hungry devices and how to tackle them!
As more Australians make the switch to all-electric homes, what’s stopping you from making the leap? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
With more Australians embracing electric alternatives, the landscape of home energy efficiency is evolving.
Here's a closer look at how this trend is reshaping Australian homes.
Across Australia, homeowners were making the switch from gas to electric, all in the name of reducing their carbon footprint and cutting energy costs.
In a trend that is gaining momentum, many Australians were choosing to go fully electric, replacing gas systems with energy-efficient, eco-friendly alternatives.
Melbourne resident Grace Mitchell shared her experience, explaining, ‘getting off gas was about minimising our use of fossil fuels and trying to maximise our use of renewable energy’.
Aussies are switching from gas to electric for savings. Image source: Grace Mitchell/Facebook
She added, ‘A few years ago we decided we wanted to do a renovation of the house, so those things lined up… It was good timing now to go through and make the house much more energy efficient’.
By ditching gas, Grace and her family saved the cost of the daily connection fee while also making their home more thermally efficient.
The significant renovation of their 1919 weatherboard cottage included replacing gas-powered heating and cooling systems with reverse-cycle air-conditioning, swapping gas cooking for an induction cooktop and electric oven, and replacing gas hot water with an electric heat pump.
Grace mentioned: ‘We’re saving a dollar a day on just not having a gas connection,’ explaining that even their instant hot water was the only remaining gas-powered appliance in the home.
She recalled their last gas bill: ‘I think it was over a 60-day period, we had $60 for gas connection and about $20 worth of actual gas use’.
She also highlighted how upgrading their older home was more financially sensible than moving to a new one, given the hefty costs of buying and selling property.
‘Just buying and selling the house… with stamp duty and everything, you’re going to drop $100,000 just shifting if you’ve got an average house in Melbourne. So you can do quite a lot on your existing house if you kind of think of it like that’, she said.
Grace joined a social media group called My Efficient Home, which had grown to more than 140,000 members, to share tips on improving home comfort and energy efficiency.
‘I have been working to this over the last years gradually replacing appliances as I could afford to do so,’ another group member shared.
‘Some people have been able to do a house renovation and then complete the work in one go,’ they added.
Australia led the world in rooftop solar penetration, with many Australians considering solar energy as part of their shift to more sustainable homes.
Grace also expressed interest in upgrading her solar system in the future, saying: ‘In the future we’ll think about upgrading our solar…and potentially a battery,’ commenting on the new $2.3 billion subsidy program for home battery installations offered by the federal government after their recent election win.
Research by Energy Consumers Australia found that over 50 per cent of Aussie homeowners had considered cutting their gas connection entirely in recent years.
In a 2023 survey by the Australian Institute, 55 per cent of respondents felt positively about electrifying their homes, although the upfront cost remained a barrier to many.
The push for electrification had become a significant trend as Australians increasingly embraced new electric technology, with gas becoming less appealing in the face of rising environmental awareness and energy costs.
While more Australians took the leap, others joined them in embracing the future of energy-efficient, all-electric homes—proof that going electric was a growing movement in Aussie homes.
In a previous story, we explored how simple changes around the home could significantly cut your energy costs.
If you’re looking to further lower your bills, understanding which appliances are draining your energy is key.
Be sure to check out the full breakdown on these energy-hungry devices and how to tackle them!
As more Australians make the switch to all-electric homes, what’s stopping you from making the leap? We’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below.
