Visit our showroom : 6 Royan Place, Bayswater North, Victoria 3153
Visit our showroom : 6 Royan Place, Bayswater North, Victoria 3153
Looking to go gas free in Victoria? You’re not alone. Both on a local and national level, a major push is being made to help property owners transition away from gas based appliances and embrace more efficient carbon-friendly options.
Effective Jan 1, 2024, Victoria’s Gas Substitution Roadmap will officially begin. This initiative not only aims to phase out gas based appliances in homes, but also lower carbon emissions and drive down power bills.
The good news? Going gas free has become more cost-effective and accessible than ever before. Whether you need to replace hot water units or HVAC systems, there are a number of substitutes that are highly effective, user-friendly, and eco-conscious.
As one of Melbourne’s leading heating and cooling companies, we’re here to break down how you can make your home gas free in Victoria. We’ll cover everything from the current rebates, alternatives to gas and how to find reliable technicians to make it all happen.
As of Jan 1st, gas connections are being banned for any new homes that are scheduled to be built across the state of Victoria. These changes will apply to all homes, subdivisions, and knock-down rebuilds that are required to have a planning permit from that date.
According to figures from Energy Victoria, more than 2 million Victorians still use gas in their homes and businesses. As a result, gas currently accounts for approximately 17% of the state’s net greenhouse emissions.
Because gas is a fossil fuel resource, it naturally has a larger impact on greenhouse emissions than electric units. Another growing concern is the issue of supply, which is also correlated to the recent uptick in prices.
In the context of homes, the major gas appliances of concern are those used for heating, hot water and cooking. We should also note that these rules do not apply to LPG gas used for outdoor BBQs or in regional homes for cooking and hot water purposes. This is because LPG represents a very small fraction of the overall gas used in Victoria.
While the dangers of open flue gas heaters have been well publicised, the focus has now shifted to phasing out other more prevalent systems. Although many of these heating units can be effective (such as ducted and gas log fire), many can also leave you with expensive power bills and produce a higher greenhouse output.
As noted by the official Roadmap, two core reasons behind the shift from gas to electric are power bills and emissions. Let’s start with utility bills.
The cost of living continues to climb and Victoria is no exception to the rule. While it’s difficult to have any control over the cost of petrol and food, heating and cooling is one area with greater flexibility and choice. On average, gas ducted central heating costs more to run than ducted reverse cycle or multi-split systems. While figures fluctuate depending on each unit’s star rating, electric generally outperforms gas in this particular area.
Source: Sustainability Victoria – ‘Calculate heating running costs’
As you can see in the graph above, even a 6 star rated gas unit will come with substantially higher running costs than that over a 1.5 star multi-split system.
What Rebates are Available?
If you’re in the market to upgrade and go gas free, rebates are a game changer that can really help to ease the financial burden. Let’s quickly explore the options currently available to Victorians.
Save with Solar
Renewable and eco-friendly, solar based technology is being used more than ever. If you’re looking to invest, the good news is that rebates are both widely available and readily accessible.
Victorian residents can currently access rebates of up to $1,400 for making the switch to solar. This plan covers both Solar Panels ($1,400) and Solar Water Heaters ($1,000). Rental properties can also access the Solar Panel rebate, which applies to a total of two individual rentals.
Simply check your eligibility online and reach out to installers for further details.
Issued by the Clean Energy Regulator, Small Scale Technology Certificates or ‘STCs’ are based on a federal scheme and can be claimed for eligible renewable technology that generates electricity. This technology may include solar PV, hydro, wind, solar water heaters and air source heat pumps.
An STC must be claimed within the first 12 months after installation, and can only be applied for after the technology is both purchased and installed. However, STCs are also available to any and all homeowners looking to add solar panels or other technology currently approved as a renewable source of energy.
Available through the Victorian Energy Upgrades (VUE) program, VEECs are electronic certificates created when energy efficient activities are undertaken at a residential or non-residential property. Each of these certificates then represents one tonne of carbon emission reductions.
As a part of a greater push towards a green future, the annual targets for this program are as follows:
2023: 6.9 million tonnes
2024: 7.1 million tonnes
2025: 7.3 million tonnes
For a more detailed overview of this program, follow the link right here. If you have any further questions about any of these rebates, the best approach is to get in touch with a local heating and cooling company.
The term ‘electrified household’ has gained popularity in recent years. Its concept is quite simple – once existing fossil fuel based appliances and utilities are replaced with alternative forms of energy, your house is now electrified.
For example, if a homeowner gets their gas appliances removed and adds an electric oven, water heater and HVAC system, they now have an electrified household. Another byproduct of this move is that you will no longer have to pay separate gas and electricity bills.
Whether you make the switch to new split systems, ducted reverse cycle or solar water heaters, there are many pathways toward electrification. This process isn’t just limited to new builds; through rebates and other avenues, existing homes can also take part in the greater trend towards electrification.
Ever since gas appliances became widely used, leaks have always been a concern. Often dubbed the silent killer, gas appliances can spread toxic carbon monoxide throughout your home. Whether the result of leaving the stove on without a flame or fumes that radiate from open-flue heaters, gas leaks are never something to be taken lightly.
Transitioning to an electrified household, therefore, removes this risk entirely. This way, your home will be safer and free from the effects of both immediate and long-term exposure to carbon monoxide fumes.
Need help to make your home electrified? Get in touch with us for affordable heating and cooling installation across Melbourne.
WIth El Nino on the horizon, the summer of 2023/24 is set to be scorching hot. This is why there’s no better time than Spring to upgrade your home’s cooling systems. So, what are the best alternatives to gas? We’ll quickly cover options for the upcoming summer and all seasons, including information on how you can take advantage of a free aircon upgrade in Victoria.
Available in single or multi-unit styles, split systems are incredibly popular across Australia. Modern split systems are efficient, effective and incredibly user-friendly. As they only use electricity to operate, split systems are a great alternative for anyone looking to transition away from gas.
Containing a condenser and a fan coil, split systems use reverse cycle technology to pump both cool and warm air down to the precise temperature you set. Due to this simple temperature control, split systems are easy to operate and well-suited to everything from small apartments to offices and family homes.
Thanks to new innovative features, these units now offer more even air distribution, intuitive energy saving modes, eye sensors, and much more. Unlike a fully fledged central gas system, a single mounted unit also gives you the ability to save money by only cooling the specific areas you need.
If you’re interested, we supply and install split systems from Caulfield to Wantirna and everywhere in between. Reach out to us for a free quote today!
Ducted reverse cycle air conditioning is another year-round alternative to gas. Given its ability to seamlessly switch from heating to cooling, these electric based systems offer the best of both worlds. And if you live in Melbourne, you’ll know just how much we all have to adjust to the consistently unpredictable weather. While gas ducted heating would require the installation of add-on cooling, reverse cycle gives you the ability to adapt to any conditions at any time.
Thanks to night modes and other noise reduction technology, a majority of these systems operate very quietly, which makes them perfect for working from home, relaxing or sleeping. These systems are also discreet and blend seamlessly into your home’s architecture, with only subtle vents visible in your ceiling or walls. Of course, your property must have the requisite space for the placement of ductwork and other core components.
What about ongoing costs and power bills? Based on figures from Sustainability Victoria, in order to cover a house of 160 square metres, a 1 star unzoned reverse cycle system has an annual energy cost of approximately $2,013, while a 3 star unzoned ducted gas will cost roughly $2,547. To illustrate this further, even a 6 star rated gas unit costs an average of $2,019 per year.
Please note that these are only estimates. For some, gas bills have skyrocketed to levels well beyond the numbers listed above.
Of course, with many forms of ducted heating and cooling, we recommend staying within the set temperature guidelines. Consistently setting the temperature too high or low will bump up your power bills significantly.
Compact, thin, affordable, and easy to operate, wall mounted panel heaters are becoming increasingly popular. Despite their relatively understated appearance, these electric heaters can quickly warm up an entire room and provide a consistent level of warmth. As they are compact and easy to install, panel heaters can be placed everywhere from bathrooms and kitchens to bedrooms and living spaces.
Countless Victorian homeowners have already made the switch away from traditional gas heaters and replaced them with these more eco friendly and safe options. This can also be a more cost-effective move, particularly if you only need to heat a smaller area.
Replacing a gas based water heater is another common way to embrace the electrified approach. These days, there are more electric hot water units available than ever before. From solar to storage and heat pump, there are countless electric water heaters on offer, as well as a wide array of respected brands to choose from.
As we noted earlier, Victorian homeowners can receive $1000 back for investing in a solar hot water heater. This is a great way to offset the higher installation costs associated with solar, as compared to other systems. Once in place, solar water heaters are renowned for their overall efficiency, which translates to lower power bills on your end.
If you’ve always preferred to cook with a gas oven and stove, it can be hard to move on and embrace the electric alternative. However, electric based cooktops have come a long way in recent decades, becoming both more reliable and user-friendly.
Replacing a gas stove with an electric or induction cooktop also eliminates the dangers of carbon monoxide leaks. In terms of appearance, the flat surface is both convenient and a subtle addition to the overall kitchen aesthetic.
From rebates to a great range of efficient electric alternatives, there has never been a better time to embrace an electric future. At Maroondah Air, we supply, install, replace and repair a wide range of heating and cooling systems. Our staff are fully licensed and accredited to remove and replace any existing gas units.
If you need assistance with heating and cooling in the Eastern Suburbs, contact us now for a free quote!
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