EPISODE 26 - Dr Annabelle says Breathe Easier. Get off Gas.

Dr Annabelle and husband Alex live in a comfy, healthy, climate-friendly home with NO ENERGY BILLS.

Before, they were spending $400 a month on energy in their old, draughty home (and were still cold!)

How did they get to ZERO ENERGY BILLS?

They went energy-efficient, all-electric and got-off-gas.

As a doctor, Annabelle knows the health benefits of getting of gas.

(Cooking with gas is estimated to be responsible for up to 12% of childhood asthma in Australia, while kids in homes cooking with gas face similar asthma risk to those living with smokers.)

They got a healthy comfy home with ZERO ENERGY BILLS by:

- Insulating walls, floors and ceilings;

- Plugging all draughts:

- Swapping gas hot water for heat-pump hot water:

- Swapping gas cooktop for induction cook top;

- cutting their gas connection (saving around $250 in annual connection costs)

- Swapping their petrol car for an all-electric vehicle.

They used the savings on their mortgage from a zero-interest green home loan, to pay for their energy efficient upgrades.

Where are you on your journey? Download the TICK OFF TEN, stick it to your fridge and get started:

1. Switch to a green renewable energy company. Is yours green or ‘greenwashing’?

2. Turn aircon to ‘heat’ mode in winter (split system/heat pumps/ reverse cycle air-con is cheapest way to heat + cool).

3. Keep weather out. (Keeping hot air out in summer, cold air out in winter means more money in your pocket).

4. Join My Efficient Electric Home on Facebook. Crowdsource info from others on the efficient-electric-home journey.

5. Insulate floors, walls and ceilings (More insulation means less energy to heat + cool our homes.)

6. Get off gas. Use portable induction cooktop instead of your gas stove. Get ready to retire gas cookers, hot water + cars.

7. Secondary or double glazing. (Keeps heat out in summer. Cold out in winter.)

8. Book an expert home energy assessment + map out your efficient-electric-home blueprint.

9. Done the above? Ready for solar? Research solar rebates + green loans. 

10. Forward this to a mate and get them on board.