Lisa and her partner Mark used the renovation of their newly purchased home in Brunswick as an opportunity to go all-electric.
As secretary of the Merri-bek Bicycle User Group, and a committed active transport user, making her new home environmental best-practice was a given.
While the 100-year-old Edwardian home was renovated and extended 60 years ago: “Now we want to set it up for the next 60 years,” says Lisa.
Step by step
Lisa initially planned for a staged renovation and move to all-electric, tackling the old part of the property first, then a new rear extension.
First, the Edwardian part of the house required restumping.
The home was stripped back to the frame internally and the gas ducted heating removed as it was impacting structural integrity and causing problems with the floors and plaster. This old gas heating was replaced with an electric reverse cycle ducted ceiling system.
To plan for the future extension, the couple worked with the reverse cycle ducted heating installer to make sure they could extend the new system adding additional outlets rather than needing an additional system.
The couple planned to tackle the old gas hot water system and electrify the cooking as part of the rear extension a few years down the track.
However, the existing cooker and gas hot water system couldn’t wait that long!
Lisa and Mark sourced a second-hand electric cooker and electric storage hot water unit, salvaged from another renovation their builder was working on. The replacement of these last two gas appliances allowed the couple to apply for removal and abolition of their gas meter late last year.
Don’t skip solar
Lisa recommends installing solar and doing so as soon as you can.
She had solar in the previous house she owned but was renting a townhouse while the renovations were underway.
She says the difference between living in a home with poor insulation and no solar is “stark”.
The rental property was west-facing, like her previous house, but smaller – and yet the bills are huge. “I missed not having to pay power bills!”
If you’re renting and experiencing a similar issue, you can access the Victorian Government’s Solar Rebates for Rental Properties program, with the option of a co-contribution from renters, and the $250 Power Saving Bonus. Tenants Victoria can also help.
Do your research
Lisa recommends getting several quotes and arming yourself with as much knowledge as possible, warning that some trades will try to stick with what they know or the minimum energy efficiency requirements.
“The difference in price is negligible in a lot of cases, so read widely and stick to your guns,” Lisa cautions. Suppliers are also often happy to share their product knowledge, she adds.
Lisa found the My Efficient Electric Home (MEEH) Facebook group useful for researching the best products to meet her efficiency goals. Renew is another resource.
Make your plan
Join clean energy future by moving your home to all-electric. Heating, cooling, hot water, cooking, bicycles & cars – all-electric is healthy and clean to run.
Everyone can enjoy the performance leaps electric appliances have taken over the past few years. That’s cheaper heating, cooling, hot water and cooking.
And it doesn’t have to be done all at once. Take your time to prepare so that when appliances, like hot water, need replacing, you’re ready to make the switch.
Move to renewable electricity for clean air and a safe choice for your household.
If it takes 6 months or 6 years. Make a plan to go all-electric.
