Want to get off gas but not sure where to start? Here are some tips
Jenny Edwards doesn’t mince words on the topic of using gas in the home.
“Let it go, that’s my view,” he told ABC RN’s Life Matters.
For a decade Ms Edwards, director of sustainability and regulatory affairs at the Australian Property Council, has been helping Canberra households – most of which have gas heating, hot water and cooking – to do just that.
“There really is a myth – we all sell the idea of gas and so it takes up a lot of time in Canberra and Victoria in particular,” he said.
But he argues that households can switch from gas to electricity “and be just as comfortable – even more comfortable – and have more money in your pocket”.
Ms Edwards offers advice for homeowners and renters to reduce their gas use and, as energy prices soar across the country, save money as well.
‘Has plans to switch’
Getting off the gas means removing smoke and fire from your home, says Ms Edwards.
And gas also “contributes to the moisture content in your home … and of course there are impacts of climate change. These are fossil fuels”.
Free online resources like MakeTheSwitch.org.au offer advice on why and where to start, but one of the main things to consider before making the switch, says Edwards, is having a plan.
“You may not be able to [transition to electricity] all in one hit and… you don’t want to replace equipment that still works, but [they] will die at some point and you want to have a plan to switch to all electricity.”
“Once you get rid of all that, then you don’t pay the gas connection fee, which is $350 a year here in Canberra.”
Costs vary across countries but savings can be made. For example, for one Victorian couple dropping the connection fee means a savings of $1.50 per day.
Across Australia, wholesale energy costs are soaring and electricity prices are rising.
Natural gas prices are also high, but the transition from gas will still equal smaller energy bills, Edwards said.
For example, reverse cycle air conditioners for heating are “many times more efficient than gas” [heating] – five to ten times more efficient”, he said.
Plus, the gas “cannot be used to cool your home” and “cannot be offset by PV/solar panels”.
He said it was important to consider states and territories individually, as there are different climates across the country.
Edwards hopes that the “much cheaper” cost of using electricity will be available to all, especially those on low incomes and vulnerable households, arguing that such households should receive government support to make the switch.
“There’s no argument that the initial costs of switching will be difficult for many, and that’s where the government needs to help low-income households.
“We can’t go [low-income earners] behind,” he said.
Start with the biggest gas waster
“The biggest consumer of gas in your home is your heating system,” says Edwards.
For those who use centralized line gas heating, it encourages energy efficiency improvements in homes to reduce dependence on them.
“So wind insulation and sealing – wind sealing I can’t stress about – once you do those things, you’ll find that in a typical Canberra home, you don’t need a centralized heating system,” he said.
“Some split system, that heat pump return cycle air conditioner, should be able to do the job.”
The next big ticket item is a gas hot water system.
“It will die one day,” Edwards said, and when it does, “don’t rush to find your local gas supplier and plumber and replace them with another gas system.”
“Take the opportunity to switch to a heat pump hot water system. It’s very efficient.”
Cooking without (out) gas
An online calculator can help determine the payback period when switching to an induction cooker, which Ms Edwards recommends for its energy efficiency.
The wok has been a tough spot for some when it comes to hobs, but Ms Edwards says there are manufacturers now producing induction hobs with curved chambers, and others making flat pans.
“There’s really no excuse now, and a lot of restaurants are turning to induction cooking too, because it’s a lot more comfortable in the kitchen, without the fire and all the extra heat and smoke.”
He recommends that tenants “talk to your landlord – not all landlords are bad”.
“Direct them to a resource, like MakeTheSwitch and ask them to think about how improving their rental property will actually increase the comfort of their living space and increase the durability and lifespan of their property. Some landlords will join in,” he said.
“If not, then draft sealing really is the number one thermal solution.”
He suggests using a gap filler to seal between the architras or the walls around the windows in the living room.
“Even if you don’t own the property, it’s a small investment that will pay off in terms of your comfort and reduced bills,” he says.
Finally, for both landlords and tenants, he says there is a cheap solution in place of expensive double-glazed windows,
“A layer of bubble wrap – on a window that doesn’t have a great view and doesn’t let in your winter sun – can create [a normal window] looks like a double-glazed window.”
Ms Edwards said she challenged people “to think of alternatives”.
“There are big wins to be had with very simple steps.”
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