Keen to get off gas in your home, but struggling to make the switch? Research shows you’re not alone
July 24, 2023
Sangeetha Chandrashekeran, The University of Melbourne and Julia de Bruyn, The University of Melbourne More than five million households in Australia are connected to the gas network. Tackling climate change requires homes and businesses to move away from gas, and instead embrace electric appliances as the power grid shifts to renewable energy. People can save […]
All-electric homes are better for your hip pocket and the planet. Here’s how governments can help us get off gas
June 19, 2023
Esther Suckling, Grattan Institute If every Australian household that uses gas went all-electric today, we would “save” more than 30 million tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions over the next ten years. That’s because there are more than 5 million households on the gas network, and the avoided emissions per home ranges from 5-25 tonnes over […]
Enhancing home thermal efficiency report released
May 18, 2023
The RACE for 2030 Cooperative Research Centre (RACE for 2030) commissioned this Opportunity Assessment on Enhancing home thermal efficiency (Research Theme H2), to identify priority research areas to accelerate the adoption of home thermal efficiency. It was conducted through a combination of desktop research (systematic review of Australian and international literature), consultations with key stakeholders […]
Budget’s energy bill relief and home retrofit funding is a good start, but dwarfed by the scale of the task
May 11, 2023
Trivess Moore, RMIT University and Ralph Horne, RMIT University The quality and performance of our housing have big impacts on the environment, cost of living and our health and wellbeing. The 2023-24 federal budget’s announcement of $1.6 billion for energy-saving upgrades to housing recognises the broad importance of retrofitting Australian homes. Until now, much of […]
We need a ‘lemon law’ to make all the homes we buy and rent more energy-efficient
April 27, 2023
Trivess Moore, RMIT University; Lisa de Kleyn, RMIT University, and Ralph Horne, RMIT University A long-awaited increase in energy-efficiency requirements for new homes is part of revised Australian construction standards taking effect on May 1. All new homes must achieve a minimum 7-star whole-of-home energy rating from October, following a six-month transition period. It’s a […]
RapidRate: AI-powered home energy insights
April 21, 2023
The challenge Making sense of home energy efficiency The case for energy efficient housing in Australia is clear. There is growing demand for residential energy efficiency data in Australia. Residential houses and apartments account for 23 per cent of Australia’s total electricity use and 11 per cent of carbon emissions. Energy efficient homes are more […]
Want an easy $400 a year? Ditch the gas heater in your home for an electric split system
March 24, 2023
Rachel Goldlust, La Trobe University Earlier this month, regulators flagged electricity price rises in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and South Australia. Like many people, you’re probably wondering how you can minimise the financial pain. Getting rid of gas and electrifying everything in your home can save you money. Modelling by not-for-profit organisation Renew showed […]
How to maximise savings from your home solar system and slash your power bills
January 23, 2023
Wasim Saman, University of South Australia Soaring electricity prices have made 15% of Aussies think about installing solar panels, a recent survey found. Another 6% were already weighing up the move, on top of the 28% who had panels. With costs falling, the average system size is growing rapidly. Households now typically install 8-10kW solar […]
Top 10 tips to keep cool this summer while protecting your health and your budget
January 3, 2023
Ross Gordon, Queensland University of Technology; Gordon Waitt, University of Wollongong, and Theresa Harada, University of Wollongong With energy prices and temperatures both rising, keeping cool in summer is an increasingly costly challenge for many Australians. Energy bills are predicted to increase by 50% over the next two years, adding to the cost-of-living crisis. For […]
How closely monitoring households’ energy data can unleash their solar outputs and (possibly) make them more money
December 21, 2022
Richard Bean, The University of Queensland and Neil Horrocks, The University of Queensland Almost one in three Australian households have solar panels on their roofs. Most are motivated by rising electricity prices and environmental concerns. Households are paid a so-called feed-in tariff for surplus energy they export to the grid. While customers would love to […]