Geelong Sustainability’s journey to the Electric Homes Program

Geelong Sustainability is proud to announce Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative as their community donation partner for the Electric Homes Program. This partnership further emphasises Geelong Sustainability’s commitment to climate action as well as our journey towards reconciliation.

The Electric Homes Program is an initiative by Geelong Sustainability, designed to support households around the Barwon region to transition off gas towards an all-electric renewable-powered future.

An important feature of the Electric Homes Program is the community donations. Every system installed contributes to the program partners donating solar panel systems and hot water heat pumps to families through Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative. RACV Solar will contribute the fully installed solar panel systems, while Reclaim Energy and Jeztek Plumbing will contribute the hot water heat pumps.

"The Electric Homes Program is a testament to the power of community-driven initiatives that make a positive impact on both the environment and people's lives. We are thrilled to join hands with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative to extend the benefits of this program," said Dan Cowdell, CEO of Geelong Sustainability. "Our partnership with Wathaurong is a significant step towards fostering a more sustainable and inclusive future for our community."

The partnership with Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative adds an important dimension to the program's goals. Every system installed through the Electric Homes Program now contributes to providing vital support to the housing needs of the Wathaurong community. This ensures that the community's participation in the program extends beyond personal and environmental benefits, reinforcing the program's commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others.

"We are excited to be part of this program that embodies our shared values of sustainability, caring for Country, Community, and supporting our mob," said Simon Flagg, CEO of Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative. "The Electric Homes Program not only benefits the environment but also contributes to supporting our Aboriginal & Torres Strait Islander families through donations of sustainable power systems. We look forward to the positive change we can create together."

The program, run by Geelong Sustainability, includes carefully selected suppliers to assist homeowners in making the transition to an all-electric, energy-efficient future. It brings together information, products, and experienced suppliers, making it easy for households to install solar panels, home battery storage, hot water heat pumps, efficient heating and cooling systems, and electric vehicle chargers where required.

The Electric Homes Program, which was launched in July of this year, has garnered an incredible response over the past few months. With over 700 expressions of interest and more than 1,400registrations for information events; the program has been instrumental in helping families embrace sustainable, all-electric solutions.

This donation would not be possible without the generosity of our Key Delivery Partners, RACV Solar, Jeztek Plumbing and Reclaim Energy, who are donating the systems and installs of the solar and heat pump hot water systems. Geelong Sustainability and its partners welcome the Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative to this program, fostering a collaborative effort toward a more sustainable and inclusive future. The program's success is not only measured in the number of installations but in the positive impact it has on families, the environment, and the broader community.

Having rebuilt their Torquay beach house in 2011, at a time when gas was very cheap, J’s house was powered largely by brand new, gas appliances. 

So, when they retired in 2017 and moved in permanently, J was faced with a decision. In the years since building the house, J had become more and more conscious of their impact on the environment. They now wanted to start the transition to all-electric, but was it worth replacing fully functioning, 6-year old appliances? 

J decided to start with solar. They’d installed 4 kW of solar panels on the garage during the build back in 2011, and now added another 6 kW to the roof of the main house along with a 17 kWh battery. 

A few years later, they decided to take the plunge and replace their gas hot water system with a 315 litre heat pump. Installed by RACV Solar, they also put in another 4 kW of north-facing solar panels. 

Fast-forward to today, and J is planning their next steps - replacing the gas oven with an induction cooktop and, in 12 months or so, getting an electric vehicle. 

While they’ve made strides toward electrification, J still faces one hurdle - their heating. With a large living space, the electric air conditioner they installed a few years ago hasn’t been able to do the job in winter, so they’re still using their hydronic system and a gas fire to keep the room warm during the colder months.

This is something they hope to overcome in the near future, so connecting with a trusted, expert supplier is a key priority.

The Electric Homes Program is designed to make it easy for households in the Barwon South West to go all-electric - whether you’re at the start of your electrification journey or, like J, want to discuss your specific needs with one of our expert delivery partners.

Through the program, you can get solar panels, batteries, heat pump hot water systems, split system heating & cooling and electric vehicle chargers. All installed by trusted, local suppliers.

To find out more about these products and speak to our expert delivery partners about your needs, register your interest today.

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With the climate crisis front of mind, Belmont local Aiden is currently in the process of transitioning his home from gas to all-electric.

Aiden and his family bought their 1930s Californian Bungalow at the end of 2022. The weatherboard building had very little insulation and several air leaks, leaving them with an obvious starting point on their journey to electrification.

Aiden’s journey so far

• The first job was putting in insulation, predominantly in the ceiling and underfloor.
• Next was the heater, replacing the whole-of-house gas ducted heating with two reverse cycle split systems in the living areas.
• The cooktop was next, replacing the gas stove with an induction cooktop.
• Then they installed solar panels ‒ a 7 kW north- and east-facing solar system. 
• Now, Aiden is in the process of replacing the instant gas hot water system with a 315 litre Reclaim heat pump hot water system. 

What’s still to come?

• Aiden plans to get a solar battery so he and his family can use their solar power round-the-clock. While their grid electricity consumption is minimal thanks to their solar panels, they still use some electricity in the mornings and evenings. 
• The final piece of the puzzle will be disconnecting their home from the gas supply and removing the meter. 

The results  

Already, Aiden is seeing the benefits from the changes he’s made - to his bill, his family’s health and to the comfort of their home.

• Comfort - The insulation and draft sealing, combined with the split system heating and cooling, has significantly improved the warmth and comfort of their home.
• Energy bill savings - With their solar panels generating electricity during the day, Aiden runs appliances like the heating/cooling, dishwasher and washing machine using “free” solar power.
• Health - With a CO2 air quality monitor installed in the kitchen, the air quality used to regularly exceed 1500-2000 ppm when using a gas cooktop (not desirable for your health). Since installing the induction cooktop, the air quality has significantly improved, with the monitor only occasionally recording CO2 concentrations of 1000 ppm or more.

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Ready to go all-electric?

Whether you’re just getting started or, like Aiden, are well on your way to electrification, the Electric Homes Program was created to make it easy for households in the Barwon South West to go all-electric.

We offer solar panels, batteries, heat pump hot water systems, split system heating & cooling and electric vehicle chargers. All installed by trusted, local suppliers.

To find out more about these products and speak to our expert delivery partners about your needs, register your interest today. 

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The Electric Homes Program is one of the biggest community initiatives of its kind.

Led by Geelong Sustainability, we've done all the hard work for you. We've brought together quality products and local suppliers, making it easy to go all-electric at home with solar, batteries, hot water heat pumps, split system heating and cooling, and electric vehicle chargers.

It’s your chance to help our region move toward an all-electric future powered by the sun, which will reduce your household’s energy bills and your emissions. Win-win!

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Ready to find out more?

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Geelong Sustainability is a not-for-profit community association and registered charity. Our vision is for people and our planet to thrive within sustainable limits. Our mission is to empower people to regenerate and protect the planet. To achieve this, we deliver projects that are focused on four strategic priorities - Climate Change, Renewable Energy, the Circular Economy and Sustainable Cities.

Since our establishment in 2007, Geelong Sustainability has become the region’s leading sustainability group with extensive networks in community, government and business throughout Geelong and the Barwon South West region. We are recognised for our evidence-based innovative projects, which educate and support our community’s transition to a net zero, circular economy.

We work closely with the community to build their capacity to address climate change and empower people to make the tangible changes we need to see in this climate emergency.

A few years ago we began exploring the best way to work with the community to access further solar and increase the local uptake in renewable energy.  We identified that there are a number of challenges facing people when it comes to getting solar. Trust is a huge issue and generally residents don’t know who to trust or how to find a reputable solar installer.  Confusion over technology, what brands  and system sizes to choose is all too often overwhelming and leads to many residents not proceeding.  Finally, the upfront cost of investing in solar has been a huge barrier for some households and can lead to many residents being left behind during this clean energy revolution.

Our aim was to develop a program to counter each of these challenges; we wanted to make the process of getting solar easy for residents. This is where the Geelong Community Solar Program was launched in 2021.

The program became the region’s largest ever solar bulk-buy, closed on 31 December 2021 with 281 locals residents and businesses installing solar and batteries. Around 2.5 MW of renewable energy was added to the local electricity grid, exceeding the original goal set out by Geelong Sustainability.

RACV Solar, one of the delivery partners, donated a solar panel for every system installed. Thanks to the community uptake we were able to donate a considerable amount of solar to the community. These panels were donated to and installed on not-for-profit community organisations, including Point Lonsdale Lawn Bowls Club, Apollo Bay Mechanics Hall, FeedMe Geelong, Anglesea Arthouse, Gellibrand Community House, Norlane Community Centre, Torquay Tigers Football Netball Club and Birregurra Lawn Bowls.

After the success of this program we wanted to expand on our previous experience and offer a more holistic program to our community that includes more elements residents require to transition to an all electric home. This is where the Electric Homes Program was developed, offering residents the opportunity to install solar, battery, EV chargers, hot water systems and split system heating and cooling to ‘electrify’ their homes. We plan for this community-led program to be bigger and better than our previous program and play a pivotal role in transitioning the region off gas, saving on emissions and building a renewable powered future together.

Thank you to those who have chosen to participate in this program that makes a difference to the community.

Whether to save money and emissions or to improve your health, going all-electric at home can be done all at once or over time. 

The Electric Homes Program is designed to make this process easy for households in the Barwon region. Below is a complete guide to transitioning off gas and onto electricity at home. 

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Going all-electric: Your key considerations

• Using renewable electricity - Solar panels and battery storage
• Replacing your gas appliances - Hot water, heating & cooling, and cooking
• Your transport - Electric vehicles and home charging
• Future proofing your home - Your switchboard & other considerations
• The final step - Disconnecting your gas

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Solar and battery storage

For many people, transitioning off gas is as much about reducing their carbon footprint as it is saving money. 

Gas is a fossil fuel, mostly made up of methane, which is a key driver of climate change. Electricity can be generated from renewable sources or fossil fuels. This makes it a better option than gas, however the only way to ensure you’re using 100% renewable energy in your home is to generate and use your own clean energy. 

Therefore solar panels and, for many households, battery storage are a key part of the transition off gas and on to renewable electricity. 

The Electric Homes Program has partnered with RACV Solar to deliver quality solar and battery solutions, installed to the highest standard and backed by industry leading warranties. Submit your details to chat to their expert team about your needs.

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Swapping out your gas appliances

Before you can disconnect your home from the gas network, you’ll need to identify which appliances in your home use gas and replace them with electric alternatives. For most Victorian households, these are likely to include your hot water system, your heating/cooling system and/or your gas stovetop. 

The Electric Homes Program offers efficient electric alternatives for your hot water system and your heating/cooling system - these are hot water heat pumps and split system heating/cooling. We’ve chosen these products as they’re among the most efficient, low cost options to run. 

To find out more about replacing your heating/cooling and hot water systems, submit your details and our delivery partners, Reclaim Energy and Jeztek Plumbing, will get in touch to discuss your needs.

Induction cooktops are the electric alternative to gas stoves, and are not only better for the climate but are better for your health too. We’re not offering cooktops through the Electric Homes Program, however we recommend getting in touch with a local supplier or, if you’re not sure where to start, reach out to us and our team can help put you on the right track. 

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Electric vehicles and home charging

Transport is another key element of switching to clean electricity in and around the home. Cars account for around half of Australia’s transport emissions, but switching your petrol car out for an electric vehicle (EV) can reduce your emissions and running costs. 

For households that have, or are planning to get, an EV, installing a charger at home allows you to recharge your car up to 3x faster than a standard power outlet. With the right charger, you can also use your solar power to “fill up free”.

Through the Electric Homes Program, you can get a charger installed in your home through RACV Solar. Submit your details to chat to their expert team about your needs.

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Plan ahead: Setting your home up to be all-electric

If, like many people, you decide to transition off gas over time, it’s worth planning ahead. Whether you start with solar panels, a hot water heat pump or heating/cooling, make sure to let our experts know what steps you might need to take now in order to make your future transition easier and more efficient.

If your home is largely powered by gas, it’s likely your switchboard might need an upgrade in order to accommodate your future electrical load. Our experts will ask for a photo of your switchboard during your consultation, so they can help you identify any required upgrades sooner rather than later. 

It’s also worth thinking about other steps you can take to increase your home’s efficiency. Look at draught proofing, window coverings and ensuring your garden can shade your home to protect from the summer heat. These things are generally low-cost but go a long way to improving the efficiency of your home. 

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Disconnecting from gas

Once you’ve eliminated your home’s gas usage, you can disconnect your home from the gas network altogether to avoid paying the connection fee. 

Permanent gas disconnection costs are now capped at $220, though other fees and exit charges may apply. We recommend talking to your utility provider directly to find out more.

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Ready to start your transition off gas?

Whether you’re interested in solar panels, battery storage, a hot water heat pump, split system heating/cooling or an electric vehicle charger, get in touch with our expert delivery partners to find out more and begin your all-electric journey today.

Hot water heat pumps are extremely efficient electric hot water systems that use up to 80% less electricity than conventional electric hot water systems. 

They work by extracting heat from the surrounding air, then use a heat exchanger to heat water rather than an element. This uses far less electricity than a conventional electric hot water system, dramatically reducing your running costs.

Heat pumps can also run on solar power, heating the water using solar energy during the day and storing it for use later on. In this way, they function like a thermal battery for your solar power and can offer households increased savings from their solar system. 

Proficient in temperatures down to -10°C, heat pumps are whisper-quiet (quieter even than some fridges!) and use natural refrigerants to minimise their contribution to global warming. Overall, they’re a great solution for almost any household.

The Electric Homes Program offers two leading heat pump options; 

• the Reclaim heat pump, which has two units - the tank and the compressor; 
• and the Apricus All-In-One heat pump, which has everything contained within the single unit. 

Our heat pump delivery partners will walk you through these options and, taking into consideration your energy usage and budget, work with you to recommend the right solution for you. 

To speak to our experts about your needs, come along to an information session or fill in our online form and our delivery partners will get in touch to discuss your needs. 

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With energy prices rising across the country, many homeowners are looking for ways to reduce their bills.

While it pays to take simple energy-saving measures, such as turning down the heater or having shorter showers, most people will see bigger savings on their energy bills with a solar system. This is because, with solar, you can generate and use your own free electricity, so you can buy less from the grid and reduce your bill.

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How much do you save with solar panels?

Solar Victoria estimates a typical household can save up to $1073 a year on electricity when they install solar panels and up to $640 a year with a battery.

However the exact savings you could see in your home will depend on a number of factors. These include how much electricity you use (and whether your home is all-electric or still uses gas), your energy rates, the type of solar system you get (including the size of your system and whether you get a battery) and even where you live.

For this reason, the best way to get an accurate estimate of your potential solar savings is to get a personalised system proposal that has been designed specifically for you.

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We’ve done the homework for you

We designed the Electric Homes program to support homeowners in the Barwon South West to transition to solar and electric appliances with ease. 

We’ve hand-picked the best suppliers based on their outstanding expertise, customer service, use of quality technology with leading warranties, and focus on supporting local jobs. So you can get an obligation-free quote through the program with confidence. 

To speak to our solar and battery experts and find out exactly what a solar solution might look like for your home, come along to an information session or fill in our online form and our delivery partner will get in touch to discuss your needs. 

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An electric home is a house that is powered using electricity, rather than fossil fuels like gas and petrol.

An all-electric home will have solar panels and battery storage, electric appliances (such as hot water systems, heating and cooling, and cooktops) and even an electric vehicle.

Electric homes are now the gold standard for houses in Australia because they’re cheaper to run, better for the environment and better for your health. According to Rewiring Australia, you could save up to $3,450 a year on running costs and drastically reduce your carbon footprint. Not to mention the broader benefits for the community as we work to transition away from fossil fuels. 

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How do you electrify your home?

Electrification can be done all at once, often when building or renovating your home, or over time. 

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Solar panels and batteries 

Installing solar panels and battery storage can be done at any time, and the sooner you do it the sooner you’ll start saving on your energy bills. 

If you have a significant renovation or new build planned, this can be a good time to go solar as you can optimise your setup and minimise installation costs.

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Electric appliances

Many people take a longer term approach to replacing their appliances (such as hot water systems, heating and cooling systems, and cooktops), replacing old ones as they reach their end of life. That said, if your gas appliances are quite old, it might pay to replace them now as they probably cost a lot to run.

Either way, make sure you’ve done your research well in advance so, by the time you’re ready to replace your gas appliances, you know which products are the best fit for you. 

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Electric vehicles

Like petrol vehicles, you can purchase electric vehicles (EVs) new or used. While some EV models are among the highest selling cars in Australia, there are significantly fewer EVs available in the used car market compared to petrol vehicles. This is because EVs are still relatively new, so we should start seeing more enter the used car market in the coming years. 

Wait times vary for new electric vehicles but, like some petrol vehicles, can be lengthy. In the meantime, look at having a home charger installed. Home chargers will charge your car up to 3x faster than a standard power outlet and can allow you to “fill up for free” using your solar power. 

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We’re making electrification easy

We know one of the biggest barriers for households that want to go electric is the time and headspace needed to do the research. So we designed the Electric Homes program to help homeowners in the Barwon South West electrify their homes with ease. 

A community program led by not-for-profit Geelong Sustainability, the Electric Homes program brings together the best products and suppliers offering solar panels, battery systems, hot water heat pumps, efficient heating and cooling systems and electric vehicle chargers. 

We’ve done the homework for you, hand-picking our delivery partners based on their outstanding expertise, customer service, use of quality technology with leading warranties, and focus on supporting local jobs, so you can make the transition with confidence. 

To find out more about electrifying your home, come along to an information session or fill in our online form and our delivery partners will get in touch to discuss your needs. 

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