Electrifying my home with Goodbye Gas
It’s been an interesting journey to make my 25-year-old home more sustainable. Originally, I installed a 1 kW solar system, and solar boost for my original gas hot water system. I added a thermal assessment of my home, draught proofing, and extra insulation.
More recently, my 1 kW solar system was replaced with 10 kW solar and a battery. And yes, the 10 kW system was cheaper than the 1 kW. In 2023 I had double glazed windows installed. So 2024 was my year to get off gas. As a keen reader on climate change, and lover of renewable energy podcasts (my favourite is Renew Economy’s podcast SwitchedOn Australia) I had a fairly good idea of what I wanted. I also found the SEC website had very useful resources, especially the ‘Build your electric home plan’, which gave accurate appliance cost information with government rebates applied, and emissions reductions.
I decided I needed some extra support with making decisions on the best appliances for my situation, as I had made some mistakes in the past (I’m looking at you, electric hot water storage tank). Also, a friend complains that her split systems were undersized for her open plan living areas and she can’t adequately heat the area. As my home is similarly open plan, it was time to get good advice. So I contacted Goodbye Gas, a Melbourne based company.
Goodbye Gas is a relatively new company. One of the owners, Ben Russell, runs his own sustainable electrical company, BREC. He noticed the lack of information to help consumers with decisions, the ‘not knowing where to start’ factor. So he set up Goodbye Gas with sustainability experts Jeremy McLeod, founder of Nightingale Housing, and Peter Steele, with a shared mission to demystify home electrification and help people get off gas for good. Marcella Palma is their Head of Operations.
Then followed a 3 step process.
First, an initial assessment. Goodbye Gas prepare an electrification plan covering the recommended appliances for your home, with costs including all eligible rebates applied. The home visit cost is rebated if you go ahead with the work – which might mean ‘let’s get this done in one hit’ or ‘let’s swap 1 appliance per year’. I chose the home visit to properly address and discuss the heating and cooling of open plan living areas, and the space needed in a small yard for hardware. My electrification plan included some tweaks to my switchboard to remove some redundant timers, and it needed to be tidied up with clear labelling. Also I accepted the offer of a plasterer, to plaster and sand ceilings where AC vents were removed.
Second, Goodbye Gas orders all your appliances – from their recommended list, or your personal choice – and books expert installers to do the work. This can include solar installation and EV charging if needed. They handle all rebate applications.
Third, their team is available to answer any questions about your new appliances, and can help you through the process of removing your gas meter. They can also advise on switching your electricity to 100% Green Power.
Once the appliances arrive and trades are booked, it’s Electrification day. Ben was first to arrive – with my coffee in a very stylish Goodbye Gas reusable cup.
Soon my house was a hive of activity. The front yard was full of new appliances and heating and cooling ducts. Ben worked on the switchboard, and co-ordinated everything. Two electricians from his electrical company installed the induction cooktop. Tradies from two other companies installed the heat pump hot water, and ceiling ducted electric heating and AC. All installs were completed on Day 1. On Day 2 plasterers arrived to repair the ceiling holes from removal of AC vents, and returned on Day 3 to sand, ready for painting. Marcella followed up after installs to make sure everything was going smoothly. I was very happy with my decision to switch off gas. Also happy that I would never again leave home and think – did I turn the gas off?
Electricity usage? In December 2023, prior to full electrification, I used 421.4 kWh. For December 2024, the first full month after electrification, usage was 348.1 kWh. The Reclaim Energy heat pump uses 0.9-1 kWh, compared to electric storage hot water which used about 3.5 kWh. I’m impressed with heat pump hot water. Hot water can be set on vacation mode while you are away, and it will heat one day a week to control legionella. When you are on the way home, just change it on the wifi connected phone app and you’ll have hot water on your return. Heating water for a cuppa is also quicker and uses less power if heated in a barista style jug on the induction cooktop, compared with plugging in the electric kettle.
Electrifying our households is one way to reduce our dependence on fossil fuels. Hopefully all these small benefits from using highly efficient electric appliances will make a difference when multiplied over many households.
Written by Margaret Morris
January 2025
Please note that this article reflects the views and experience of the author. Sustainable Macleod does not endorse private businesses.