Let’s Go All Electric!

Want to save on your power bills and reduce your carbon footprint? BREAZE can help you find the information and resources you need.

You can drastically reduce your carbon footprint and make significant savings in the long run by electrifying everything in your home.

A home running on fossil fuels averages $5,300 p.a. (including petrol) on fuel bills.

Compare this to an all electric home with an average of $1,850 p.a. for power bills.

Excluding cars, the average fossil-fuel home is spending around $2,700 a year on energy.   An all-electric home will save you on average $1,250 each year and this is set to increase.

An electrified home is relatively easy to achieve and can be heavily subsidised by both State and Federal governments.

The main appliances that need replacing to achieve an all-electric home are:

  • Heating and cooling systems - replace with reverse cycle air conditioning

  • Water heaters - replace with electric heat pumps

  • Cooktops - replace with induction stovetops

  • Vehicles - go all electric

Adding solar will offset your running costs and if you switch to green electricity your power will be sourced from renewable energy.

The Switch may not cost as much as you think!

Current rebates for home electrification

Planning to make your home more energy efficient

Government-accredited Scorecard assessors are experts in home energy efficiency. A Scorecard assessment will provide you with a clear path forward for your energy efficient transition for less! An assessor will combine the information on the Scorecard certificate with their expert knowledge to make targeted upgrade recommendations and connect householders with applicable government rebates and subsidies.

Finding a Scorecard assessor is easy!

Save on your heating.

A reverse cycle air conditioner is the most economical way of heating your home. Not only is it the lowest cost heating available but it also generates the lowest greenhouse emissions. If you have both gas heating and a reverse cycle air conditioner, simply opting to use the air conditioner instead of your gas heating will result in immediate savings with no outlay.

Calculate your heating running costs:

How do I choose an air conditioner?

Choosing the right size of appliance can make a big difference to your bills. Here’s how:

CHOICE an Australian consumer group regularly reviews appliances, including air conditioners and other home heating. You can subscribe to their online newsletter without cost. HERE (not affiliated with BREAZE).

Save on your hot water: Newsflash: Ballarat is not too cold for a hot water heat pump.

The upfront cost of a hot water heat pump is higher than other water heating systems, but compare the running cost of gas hot water for an average household over 10 years at $3,600 with a hot water heat pump using solar which is just $400. The more hot water your household needs, the sooner the upfront cost will be recouped.

Induction cooktops - fast, efficient, clean, cheaper to run.

Consider a heat pump clothes dryer

Do you have a business that requires frequent use of a clothes dryer such as a Bed and Breakfast, Hairdresser or massage service? Heat pump clothes dryers cost more upfront but are very efficient and cost considerably less to run. If you are planning to replace your old dryer you might want to consider a heat pump. Whilst a traditional dryer is likely to have a two star energy rating, a heat pump dryer can have a rating as high as nine or ten!

According to Choice, they use around a third of the energy of a conventional vented dryer:

We've found heat pump dryers have an average 10-year running cost of $680, compared with an average of $1985 for vented dryers. And that's based on one run per week – if you're a heavy dryer user then the savings will be bigger, and you'll rapidly justify the higher purchase price.

The Switch may not cost as much as you think!

Current rebates for home electrification

Planning to make your home more energy efficient

Government-accredited Scorecard assessors are experts in home energy efficiency. A Scorecard assessment will provide you with a clear path forward for your energy efficient transition for less! An assessor will combine the information on the Scorecard certificate with their expert knowledge to make targeted upgrade recommendations and connect householders with applicable government rebates and subsidies.

Finding a Scorecard assessor is easy!

Save on your heating

A reverse cycle air conditioner is the most economical way of heating your home. Not only is it the lowest cost heating available but it also generates the lowest greenhouse emissions. If you have both gas heating and a reverse cycle air conditioner, simply opting to use the air conditioner instead of your gas heating will result in immediate savings with no outlay.

Calculate your heating running costs

How do I choose an air conditioner?

Choosing the right size of appliance can make a big difference to your bills. Here’s how:

CHOICE an Australian consumer group regularly reviews appliances, including air conditioners and other home heating. You can subscribe to their online newsletter without cost. HERE (not affiliated with BREAZE).

Save on your hot water: Newsflash! Ballarat is not too cold for hot water heat pumps

The upfront cost of a hot water heat pump is higher than other water heating systems, but compare the running cost of gas hot water for an average household over 10 years at $3,600 with a hot water heat pump using solar which is just $400. The more hot water your household needs, the sooner the upfront cost will be recouped.

Induction cooktops - fast, efficient, clean, cheaper to run.

Consider a heat pump clothes dryer

Do you have a business that requires frequent use of a clothes dryer such as a Bed and Breakfast, Hairdresser or massage service? Heat pump clothes dryers cost more upfront but are very efficient and cost considerably less to run. If you are planning to replace your old dryer you might want to consider a heat pump. Whilst a traditional dryer is likely to have a two star energy rating, a heat pump dryer can have a rating as high as nine or ten!

According to Choice, they use around a third of the energy of a conventional vented dryer:

We've found heat pump dryers have an average 10-year running cost of $680, compared with an average of $1985 for vented dryers. And that's based on one run per week – if you're a heavy dryer user then the savings will be bigger, and you'll rapidly justify the higher purchase price.

In 2021-22 BREAZE Inc lead the Grampians Community Power Hub

In July 2021, BREAZE Inc. was chosen by Sustainability Victoria, to lead the Grampians Community Power Hub – to identify community renewable energy projects across the 11 LGAs of the Grampians region. In partnership with its Hepburn Branch partner lead by Hepburn Energy BREAZE volunteers identified 40 + projects. Delivered by Sustainability Victoria, the 2021 Community Power Hub program, which involved seven Hubs across the State,  ended in July 2022.

Another project identified by the B-CPH and funded by the GRE Program saw the installation of 450kW of solar PV installed on custom designed carpark covers at the East Grampians Health Service (EGHS) in Ararat.

One Dollar for One Watt

Our second project, called One Dollar for One Watt, was a collaboration with social housing providers to put solar panels and/or solar hot water on suitable properties. This is an ongoing project where we ask other organisations and groups to fund raise on behalf of BREAZE. For details about fund raising for the project, then then please read our Fundraising Information.

Since 2016 BREAZE has contributed 67kW  of Social Solar. We'd love to make that 100kW by the end of 2020.  If your business or employer is keen to make a difference let them know about our Social Solar program - check out our fund-raising link and get in touch

For further information email socialsolar@breaze.org.au