Getting off gas: What you can do at home

The upfront costs of switching appliances can be prohibitive for most households. But the good news is there are plenty of easy and low-cost options that can help anyone begin to reduce their consumption of methane gas.

Take advantage of the rebates available

In Victoria there are a range of rebates than can assists households with the cost of switching to efficient electric appliances.

Rebates of up to $1,000 are available to help eligible households replace old heating systems with an efficient electric split system. Learn more >>

You could also be eligible for a rebate of up to $1,000 to replace your old hot water heater with an approved electric or solar hot water system. Find out more >>

Plan ahead

You don’t have to do it all at once! Switching out old gas appliances can be part of your long-term planning. By doing your research before an appliance gives out, you’ll be ready to upgrade to a modern, efficient electric option.

The Metropolitan Community Power Hub can provide free and independent advice so you can choose appliances that best meet your needs.

‘Renew’ also has some fantastic resources that can help you research the best options for your next upgrade.

1. Choosing an efficient electric hot water system to meet your needs.
2. Choosing the right heating system.
3. Guide to induction cook tops.

Try a portable induction cooktop

Switching from a gas cooktop to induction can be tricky – particularly if you’re renting or aren’t sure whether to take the plunge on a new technology.

That’s where a portable plug-in induction cooktop can be a winner. They’re relatively lightweight, one-hob appliances that run on your existing home power point. They’re also very affordable, with many good options costing between $49 and $100.

With this simple plug-and-play appliance you might soon find yourself ditching gas cooking for good!

Check out the CHOICE guide to buying a portable induction cooktop here.

Use your existing reverse-cycle AC for space heating

Gas heating is now about the most expensive and polluting way to heat a home. Reverse cycle air conditioners are now much cheaper – and better for our climate too.

However analysis has shown that there might be as many as 1 Million households in Australia which own reverse cycle air-conditioners but don’t use them for space heating. If you are one of them, then switching on your reverse-cycle AC instead of the gas heater is a simple and easy way to keep cosy and reduce your gas bill.

Improve your efficiency

You can reduce your consumption of gas without changing any of your appliances simply by being smarter about how and when you use them. Simple DIY home insulation tricks can dramatically reduce your heating bills.

The ‘My Efficient Electric Home’ group on Facebook is also a great place to get tips and answers for any questions you have.

How to save energy at home

Environment Victoria

To help you save energy at home, we’ve put together this handy list of small, medium and large upgrades you can make to your home.