After moving to Inverloch a few years ago from Melbourne, Sharon has been making a conscious effort to reduce her carbon footprint, minimise her energy consumption, and reduce her energy bills. To go all-electric, Sharon has installed a 6.6kW rooftop solar system, 13.5 kWh home battery, reverse cycle split system heating/cooling, a heat pump hot water system, and a portable induction stovetop.

Sharon's journey started with the installation of her rooftop solar panels, through a local solar provider. With the perfect north orientation of her house, she can maximize solar gain throughout the year, meaning the rooftop solar system now provides almost all of her daily energy needs. Sharon's solar panels generate enough electricity to power her home and allow her to sell excess electricity back to the grid, thereby reducing her electricity bills.

To complement her solar panels, Sharon installed a Tesla Powerwall battery, which stores excess solar energy generated during the day for use at night when the sun is not shining. The Powerwall battery also acts as a backup power supply in case of a power outage, ensuring that her home is powered even during emergencies.

In addition to the solar panels and battery, Sharon also installed a heat pump hot water system, which uses electricity to heat water. This helps to reduce energy waste and lower energy bills. Sharon says the biggest contribution to reducing energy use was replacing her ducted gas heating system with a reverse cycle, split system heating/cooling system. Once other gas appliances were replaced, this allowed her to disconnect from mains gas, resulting in considerable savings from no longer paying daily supply charges for gas.

Finally, Sharon is trialling replacing her gas stove with a portable induction stovetop. Induction stovetops use electricity to create a magnetic field that heats the cookware directly, instead of the air around it. This results in faster cooking times, reduced energy waste, and lower energy bills. Induction stovetops are also safer to use than gas stoves, as they do not produce an open flame, reducing the risk of gas leaks and fires.

Sharon's electrification journey not only benefits her financially but also has a positive impact on the environment. By getting off gas, fully electrifying her home and using her own renewably generated electricity, Sharon is helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change. She is also helping to create a more sustainable future by setting an example for others to follow.

Sharon's decision to electrify her home is a smart and sustainable choice. By installing solar panels, a home battery, split system heating/cooling, a heat pump hot water system, and a portable induction stovetop, she has reduced her carbon footprint, lowered her energy bills, and ensured that her home is powered even during emergencies.