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GETTING YOUR HOME OFF GAS: A QUICK GUIDE

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01.09.22 By Climate Council


Getting off gas is a great way to cut your household’s power bills while also
cutting the emissions produced. With the price of gas spiking during 2022 and
higher prices forecast in the years ahead, there’s never been a better time to
make the switch.


WHY AUSTRALIA NEEDS TO WAVE GOODBYE TO GAS

Gas is a polluting fossil fuel. Although it has been marketed for decades as a
clean power source for our homes, in reality, it produces harmful CO2 emissions.
Over 5 million Australian homes are currently connected to a gas network,
accounting for 17 per cent of total gas consumed in Australia and 2 per cent of
our national emissions.    

Those gas connections don’t come cheap, because gas appliances are less
efficient and more expensive to run than modern electric equivalents. Climate
Council analysis indicates households can make average savings of over $1,000 a
year across Australia by switching from gas appliances to the most efficient
electric alternatives.     

Going all-electric isn’t just good for your wallet and the climate. It’s also
good for your family’s health. Far from the “clean and natural” image that the
gas industry promotes, the use of gas for heating and cooking indoors carries
many health risks. Cooking with gas is estimated to be responsible for up to 12%
of the burden of childhood asthma in Australia. A child living with gas cooking
in the home faces a comparable risk of asthma to a child living with household
cigarette smoke. 



Will you join households and businesses all around Australia in pledging to get
your home off gas?
Click here to make the Climate Council’s Pledge to Go Gas-Free!

So if you’ve decided it’s time to kick the gas habit, where do you start? Read
on for five steps you can take for a cheaper, cleaner and healthier home. 

This isn’t a DIY job! Before you get your toolbox, always seek professional
help! It isn’t just dangerous, it is illegal to conduct electrical and gas
system repairs, modifications, and upgrades without an appropriate
qualification.


GET EFFICIENT WITH HEATING

Heating and cooling uses the greatest amount of energy in Australian homes,
accounting for around 40 per cent of total use. In cool climates like Victoria
and Tasmania, gas heaters and ducted gas systems are very common for getting
through the chilly winters.     

But reverse cycle air conditioners based on efficient heat pump technology are
significantly cheaper to run and produce fewer emissions in cold weather because
they are much more efficient. That means more of the energy needed to run them
is directly turned into heat instead of being lost when it is burned or
distributed around your house. 

Climate Council analysis indicates that on average, reverse cycle air
conditioners cost about half as much to run as standing gas or ducted gas
heaters.

To find the best reverse cycle heating system for your home, check out Choice’s
great product guides and reviews.  




(HEAT) PUMP IT UP

Heating water for steamy showers and sparkling clean clothes accounts for around
25 percent of the energy used in our homes. Gas hot water systems are a common
fixture in existing Australian homes because these used to be the most efficient
technology available. But times have changed! Thankfully, the world has moved
on, and electric heat pumps are now a cleaner and more affordable technology for
water heating. 

Heat pump hot water systems draw in heat from the air and collect it in a water
storage tank. They are more efficient than both traditional electric and gas hot
water systems, with annual running costs around 50 per cent lower than an
instantaneous gas system.     

To find out more about how heat pump hot water systems work and the benefits for
your home, visit Renew’s online buyer’s guide.  


EMBRACE INDUCTION COOKING

It’s a myth that gas cooking is superior to induction. Replacing gas cooktops
and ovens with induction appliances is another great way to save, and it won’t
come at the expense of a delicious meal. For example, induction cooktops can be
used with woks made from a ferromagnetic material such as stainless steel,
carbon steel, or cast iron – delivering the same great flash cooking much more
efficiently. 

The price of induction cooktops and ovens has also come down considerably in
recent years compared with when they were introduced as a new technology. Today,
induction cooking appliances are available in a wide range of models and price
points to suit every household. CHOICE has prepared this useful guide for
comparing brands and prices.      




CUT THE CONNECTION

Once you’ve switched over your household heating, hot water and cooking
appliances, why keep a gas connection at all? To avoid paying annual connection
charges for a service you don’t need, it’s possible to disconnect your home
entirely from the gas network. 

The process and cost for this differ around Australia, so speak with your
utility provider to get the most up-to-date information. Be warned: utilities
will sometimes quote high prices or overly complicated processes to start with
because it’s not in their interest to have households get off gas en masse. But
stick with it – the long-term savings can be worth it! 

The more that households take this final step, the more it puts Australia on
track for the deep and rapid emissions cuts we need this decade to avoid harmful
global warming.    


GO GRADUALLY, AND GET HELP

Changing over your home appliances can come with some costs, so you don’t need
to do it all at once. Gradually replacing gas appliances with electric
alternatives as they reach end of life is an affordable way to transition your
home over time. Every appliance you switch over will help reduce your bills and
your home’s emissions! 

Installing an induction cooktop will generally require upgrades to your home’s
electrical wiring, however, heat pump hot water heaters and reverse cycle air
conditioners may. It’s always best to check with an electrician before you
purchase new appliances.

If you do want to make a major upgrade, do your research on what government
incentives may be available in your region. For example, the ACT Government
currently offers interest free loans of up to $15,000 for households in the
Territory to invest in cleaner appliances through the Sustainable Household
Scheme. Other governments offer incentives for upgrading particular appliances,
and direct grants to help with these costs for households on lower incomes.

Ready to take action and get your home off gas? Click here to make the Climate
Council’s Pledge to Go Gas-Free!
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