https://www.electrifyyarra.org/news-events daily 0.75 2026-03-30 https://www.electrifyyarra.org/news-events/our-pilot-community-project-to-lower-energy-bills monthly 0.5 2026-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/c5c4dcb2-0831-439b-a582-dc440ce58f21/Screenshot+2026-02-17+at+4.10.53%E2%80%AFPM.png News & Events - Our Community Pilot Project to Lower Energy Bills We are starting work with a small group of about 60 homes as a pilot for intensive community support to electrify during the coming year. We hope this can become a template for neighborhood groups across the City of Yarra. Our aim in this project is to dramatically reduce household energy bills for approximately 60 homes in a small zone in North Fitzroy. The area has an established street group. We will document the experience as a template for wider adoption in the City of Yarra. We will report our results by the end of the year and plan to create a guide for similar community based projects in the City of Yarra to replicate our success. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/news-events/electrifying-apartments-save-money-and-get-off-gas monthly 0.5 2026-03-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/631b63c6-4266-436b-a78e-195369a28fb8/Screenshot+2026-02-15+at+3.22.12%E2%80%AFAM.png News & Events - Electrifying Apartments - Save Money and Energy - Do you live in an apartment? Want to know how you can benefit from electrification cost-savings? Retrofitting individual apartments and common areas for electrification in a shared building can be a complex but rewarding journey. From navigating shared infrastructure and owners corporation approvals to design and space limitations. If you rent or own an apartment or want to learn more about getting rooftop solar or retrofitting appliances, this session will cover helpful resources and real life examples. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/news-events/hot-water-tanks-made-in-the-latrobe-valley monthly 0.5 2025-12-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/a4630ca8-1d05-4382-85ec-128545bd71fa/IMG_2175.JPG News & Events - Hot water tanks made in the Latrobe Valley - We wanted to see how Earthworker, a workers cooperative, builds hot water tanks for high end heat pump systems. When choosing a heat pump hot water system, you must choose one of three doors. Behind the first door is a very cheap, noisy, somewhat ineffective All-in-One system that can break down quickly. (Do not choose that door.) Behind the middle door are the better mid-price All-in-Ones like Apricus and Aquatech. Many choose the middle door. Behind the third door, are the Split systems. Splits cost more but they use less power, are quieter, heat more quickly and last longer. Some systems (Sanden, Reclaim and Earthworker) are rated as being made in Australia. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/87a8907a-ba63-4483-9f33-b1c13f8124e9/IMG_2173.JPG News & Events - Hot water tanks made in the Latrobe Valley - Earthworker tanks are behind the third door. They offer a 15-year warranty. Staff told us that customers tell them that their stainless-steel tanks can last twice that long. In the Earthworker manufacturing process the completed tank is inserted into a larger diameter recycled plastic sleeve. The gap between the two is then filled with insulation – like the pastry around a Chiko Roll. This substantial blanket of insulation means the system comes up to heat quickly and holds the heat (even over cold nights in Canberra). https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/09c0f565-0e81-4d74-8eb9-c47a92f8a56f/IMG_2170.JPG News & Events - Hot water tanks made in the Latrobe Valley - By contrast, All-in-Ones need a small kettle-style booster to reach and hold top temperature. This uses more energy. As you would expect, the Split tank and compressor kit costs more than an All-in-One. This higher initial cost will deter some. They will choose a good All-in-One from behind the middle door. Others will prefer to pay up front for a system with a longer, quieter life during which it generates greater savings over the long term. One further factor may tip your decision towards Earthworker. If you choose one of the made-in-Australia systems, you will be able to claim an additional rebate of $400. Add to that the Earthworker tanks are being made in the LaTrobe Valley where jobs are not as plentiful as they were. One of the staff we spoke to, used to work in the timber industry. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/news-events/we-had-some-great-conversations-at-fitzroy-north-primary-schools-fete monthly 0.5 2025-12-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/212a4abb-db4b-4317-b424-52ebc243f26a/Screenshot+2025-12-08+at+1.16.56%E2%80%AFPM.png News & Events - We had some great Conversations at Fitzroy North Primary School’s Fete Families were able to add their partially or fully electric homes to our map, and we were able to answer questions about heat pump hot water, rooftop solar, heating and cooling as well as planning the first steps. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/010ca0ba-af85-421d-9b81-d3fc752ae25c/Screenshot+2025-12-08+at+1.17.00%E2%80%AFPM.png News & Events - We had some great Conversations at Fitzroy North Primary School’s Fete Kids had fun with our solar-powered cars, even racing them when the sun came out! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/9a2b0b69-5bd2-4ddd-9334-5e4c30740c98/Screenshot+2025-12-08+at+1.17.03%E2%80%AFPM.png News & Events - We had some great Conversations at Fitzroy North Primary School’s Fete - ‘Harry the Heat Pump’ even made his first appearance! It was a great day for all concerned and we’re making plans for more school fetes and outdoor events in the coming year. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1 daily 0.75 2025-12-21 https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/dale-and-duncan-electrified-while-renovating-their-north-fitzroy-terrace monthly 0.5 2025-12-21 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/f916f737-a6a9-40f0-b1cb-d5b5be3bf11c/Dale+and+Duncan+adjusted+together.jpg Yarra Stories - Dale and Duncan electrified while renovating their North Fitzroy terrace - Dale is a solicitor and Duncan is a plumber who lead busy lives with their son Angus in their Victorian terrace in North Fitzroy. Their all-electric house reflects their personal actions to address climate change, including a flourishing vegie garden and stormwater harvesting. Their description of why they electrified was simple - “climate change!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/a29d4be1-932a-4c18-b0d0-166757fa9703/stovetop+adjusted.jpg Yarra Stories - Dale and Duncan electrified while renovating their North Fitzroy terrace When they renovated their home about four years ago, Dale and Duncan took the opportunity to change to induction cooking, and install electric hot water and rooftop solar. This was a significant renovation and it gave them the chance to build-in appliances along with the necessary plumbing and wiring. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/04c21056-885f-4f6c-904c-b9633e34d2ec/spot+the+tank+adjusted.jpg Yarra Stories - Dale and Duncan electrified while renovating their North Fitzroy terrace The hot water storage tank fits beautifully in a central light well - it’s almost totally hidden by the plants around it. Their rooftop solar system consists of twelve panels on top of their second story extension which has radically reduced their energy bills. Heating and cooling was previously done with a hydronic system which had a gas boiler, plus a split system installed some time ago. When they renovated they installed a bulkhead unit in the kitchen and meals area. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/a7ffd767-72b0-4208-96d8-0147fcc2d45f/hydronic+heat+pump1+adjusted.jpg Yarra Stories - Dale and Duncan electrified while renovating their North Fitzroy terrace Their next move was to disconnect from gas, leaving the meter sitting idle and just recently they have installed a heat pump unit to replace the gas hydronic boiler. This is quite a large, expensive unit but far more efficient than the gas boiler and it works with the existing wall panels. The system heats the house impressively - while it’s yet to be fully tested in a cold Melbourne winter, the option to enlarge some of the wall panels is there if needed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/2d272a38-a7b3-45fa-9b5c-bd26cb9cf8a9/Dale+with+wall+panel+adjusted.jpg Yarra Stories - Dale and Duncan electrified while renovating their North Fitzroy terrace The heat pump unit supplied by Melbourne Hydronic working with Get Off Gas fits nicely in the back garden (next to water storage tanks) and sits above a small buffer tank, with a small compressor unit in the shed next to it. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/57e0af29-35e4-476f-b49e-fa3e2b5eebf7/shot+of+rear+with+Duncan+adjusted.jpg Yarra Stories - Dale and Duncan electrified while renovating their North Fitzroy terrace Duncan said they are working through whether a battery is worthwhile with their current solar system and whether they can expand that with some more panels. We talked through the current ‘Cheaper Home Batteries’ discounts and the upcoming changes to this program, outlined here. Dale and Duncan think they will definitely switch from their current internal combustion transport to electric at some time. A possible challenge is whether they can squeeze an EV into their back yard for charging to take advantage of their rear laneway. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/for-alix-and-jode-electrifying-their-home-was-life-changing monthly 0.5 2025-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/51367452-6b99-48ef-8ed4-4c4b0d894e11/ALIX+%26+JODE+COMBINED.jpg Yarra Stories - For Alix and Jode, electrifying their home was life-changing For Alix and Jode, electrifying their home was all about doing right by the environment. Jode’s work with Doctors for the Environment played a big part “seeing the effects of gas at home on health was a huge inspiration to electrify,” she says. Their 16-year-old son’s passion for sustainability gave them the final push to make a change that felt both natural and necessary. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/cf619323-36c9-4924-bfd2-64ec5708e116/Alix+Jode+cooktops+and+oven.jpg Yarra Stories - For Alix and Jode, electrifying their home was life-changing - Alix - the cook of the family - also transformed the kitchen, simply and cheaply by swapping out gas burners for two portable induction cooktops, and replacing a conventional oven with an air-fryer electric oven. The change has been especially important for managing his MS. “I’m really sensitive to heat and cold, and switching to electric has brought the room temperature under control and has been life-changing. I couldn’t recommend it more for someone with issues like mine,” he says. Alix found the appliances they chose gives him full control over his cooking and two cooktops are sufficient for a family of three. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/befa3475-893c-4586-8566-eed3458b8fac/Alix+Jode+HWS.jpg Yarra Stories - For Alix and Jode, electrifying their home was life-changing Next, they installed two home batteries to store and use their solar power — a decision made easier by the government’s Cheaper Home Batteries initiative. To their disappointment, the battery installation was too close to their gas meter to be certified, so there was only one thing for it - swap out their last gas appliance - hot water - and remove the gas meter and supply. Soon after, a heat pump hot water system was installed, the gas meter removed and the batteries were certified and ‘turned on’. Alix and Jode just celebrated their first 24 hours of energy independence, with nothing needing to be drawn down from the grid. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/744303e7-3a18-4a0d-aab5-38286bf3d166/Alix+Jode+app.jpg Yarra Stories - For Alix and Jode, electrifying their home was life-changing Alix reflects that one of the biggest lessons is the value of learning from others in the community. “To learn more from neighbours and friends - especially on tradie recommendations - and jump in sooner with the induction cooktop,” he says. Electrification is a journey. They were initially thinking that three-phase power would be necessary. On digging into it with their supplier they found that this was a costly and difficult thing to do since their power supply would need a significant and costly upgrade since the connection was fairly old and relied on their connection with nearby terrace houses, some of which are rented. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/lisa-and-richard-electrified-everything monthly 0.5 2025-06-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/687e0d71-5ea2-4864-8f08-75a49bd04422/Screenshot+2025-06-17+at+5.18.44%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Lisa and Richard electrified everything! Lisa and Richard live in their two story brick family home where they raised their adult children in Richmond. They are strongly motivated by climate change, so electrifying all elements of their house was a priority. They shared their approach and experience with Electrify Yarra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/23baad53-730b-4403-b61f-b773101651e1/Screenshot+2025-06-17+at+5.18.48%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Lisa and Richard electrified everything! Richard: “When the heating failed we just thought, this is the time when you should make the change.’ Lisa: “Getting the heat pump for the hydronic was very expensive. Following advice, the hydronic heating was also supplemented by three split system units spread throughout the house. Lisa continued…”this is our first serious winter, it’s a bit hard to tell how well the heating’s going because Richard is monitoring our energy so closely that he’s often turning the heating down! But it works fine - what we do is set the hydronic at around 18 degrees and then we’ve got the reverse cycle [split system] units to boost the temperature when we need to. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/8effb050-e808-435b-a41d-706748cae599/Screenshot+2025-06-17+at+5.18.51%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Lisa and Richard electrified everything! That first supplier went broke last year just after completing the project. Fortunately, for us they seem to have done a good job and everything is working well. Then it was time to get the solar system, we found a supplier that checked the roof and was fine working with the asphalt tiles, and we chose a 13kWh solar system together with a Tesla Powerwall 3, also 13kWh. It was really disappointing that, since we have a heritage overlay in this neighborhood, the City of Yarra does not allow solar panels on the roof facing the street - we could have had a much bigger system, and use that part of the roof is north-facing. We’re still waiting for Citypower to approve the connection of the battery to the grid but it’s working well, storing and supplying energy for the house.” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/8dda3172-8ba1-413d-9a0f-36e6897e41a7/Screenshot+2025-06-17+at+5.18.55%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Lisa and Richard electrified everything! Richard: “I hadn’t really thought about having a naked flame in your house - it’s a pretty traditional thing to do. But you have a fire going there and house fires happen so easily. Plus the health impacts are bad. I just love the fact that the induction cooktop is flat, and it’s so easy to clean.” Lisa: “The other thing we found with heating is that with kids having recently moved out for some time, we don’t really need to heat the whole house, but in an old [1930’s] house it’s hard to close off areas, and there are lots of draughts in the old part of the house. Also on the battery, it’s located at the front of the house, and the Tesla logo lights up at night! We’re not fans of Elon Musk!” https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/f9951057-5742-42db-ba81-100daa1b23e3/Screenshot+2025-06-17+at+5.18.57%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Lisa and Richard electrified everything! Richard: “We would probably get an electric car at some time, we’ve got neighbours with electric cars. When you look at the energy you generate in the summer, you just can’t use it all. I think I’ll also get someone to do a leak test on the house to see how we can improve the draughtproofing. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/gillian-completely-electrified-her-terrace-house-with-help-from-her-neighbourhood-group monthly 0.5 2025-04-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/88c71ef4-8911-4f7c-aec7-a95f8aee9c35/Gillian+portrait+tight+crop.jpg Yarra Stories - Gillian completely electrified her terrace house… with help from her neighbourhood group Gillain was wondering if it was time to replace her hot water system when her central heating failed. Luckily, just at that time, she was able to attend a neighbourhood meeting about electrification to get some insight and support. Her street sustainability group has been active for many years. Electrify Yarra spoke at that meeting about the benefits of electrification, but importantly a neighbourhood couple at that meeting had already converted to a fully electric house - and that was an enormous incentive and help. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/750ade5a-b117-4aa6-a2b6-2a4a5c6901c8/Hall+controller.jpg Yarra Stories - Gillian completely electrified her terrace house… with help from her neighbourhood group I've lived in the house for ten years. Just after I moved in I had a gas central heating system installed in the ceiling. Not long after, I installed a basic system with solar panels. Recently I have had concerns about the age of the hot water system and then in November the heating died and left me having to make some decisions quickly. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/bd891953-24d9-49db-a8c2-853b0c637a88/back+room.jpg Yarra Stories - Gillian completely electrified her terrace house… with help from her neighbourhood group We are very lucky in our street - an active sustainability group has been going since the time I moved here with fantastically committed people. Luckily they had organised a meeting about electrification at just the right time. Electrify Yarra spoke and I heard from neighbours who had a fully electrified house. I was then able to visit their house, see, touch and hear their appliances, but most importantly they shared the name of their installer and spoke highly of the work done. It was a relief to find one company that could organise and oversee all the work - design, electrical and plumbing and installation. I met with them at my house together with another neighbour who asked very perceptive questions which was really helpful. They advised and then quoted on which units would be best, where they could locate them and what changes were needed to the electrical switchboard. They were incredibly knowledgeable and experienced in their area of expertise. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/d9f260e2-de63-460e-b662-917537a7356c/Condensers+in+courtyard.jpg Yarra Stories - Gillian completely electrified her terrace house… with help from her neighbourhood group By then I had already received one quote to replace the gas central heating alone and that helped compare the cost of the quote for heating and hot water - I found, compared to the quote for the heating alone, the cost to upgrade to the latest model electric appliances was good value and gave me what I was looking for in a centrally heated house. In the end I decided to invest in an induction cooktop as well, as part of the same project, since this was the only remaining gas appliance in the house and this would mean I could stop paying the $40 a month for gas charges just to be connected to the network. I have two young grandchildren who stay with me sometimes, so moving from gas to an induction cooktop was important for health reasons. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/29cd755d-9d26-426b-bcfd-5abb2840707f/Cooktop.jpg Yarra Stories - Gillian completely electrified her terrace house… with help from her neighbourhood group The project was all completed really smoothly. It was all completed in one day. There were so many tradies in the house, it was amazing and they were so efficient and fully in control of their areas of expertise. They installed: A heat pump hot water unit to replace the gas storage unit A heat pump ducted system in the front/older part of the house - bedrooms, bathroom and a study with ceiling vents and a larger return ceiling vent A large split system to heat and cool the rear living area, and The induction cooktop which fitted perfectly into the existing benchtop. The house has a small courtyard and the water tank and condenser units could all be located there. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/noirit-and-steve-planned-the-electrification-of-their-town-house-carefully monthly 0.5 2025-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/35432d75-f364-4d85-95fc-c90844b3ede7/Screenshot+2025-03-10+at+6.45.13%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Noirit and Steve planned the electrification of their town house carefully - Noirit and Steve live with their young daughter in a two storey North Fitzroy townhouse. Noirit is a financial planner and Steve is an IT professional as well as a volunteer with Electrify Yarra. Noirit and Steve live with their young daughter in a two storey North Fitzroy townhouse. Noirit is a financial planner and Steve is an IT professional as well as a volunteer with Electrify Yarra. As a couple, they are both highly motivated to make their home sustainable and energy efficient, and they recently sat down to share their journey with Electrify Yarra. As we spoke, their focus on getting expert advice, connecting with their community for advice, and developing a clear set of priorities stood out. Even so, there were lessons learned and some surprises along the way. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/dbfe2dc0-e7c6-43e9-957d-9fbc8621e134/Screenshot+2025-03-10+at+6.50.51%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Noirit and Steve planned the electrification of their town house carefully Steve continued… The architect drew up a plan for us and explained how we should start with draught-proofing. Next, we could set up a new ceiling below the existing one (which is high), to install really good insulation - our downlights in the old ceiling had no insulation around them. She also explained how simple shading - a big awning on the balcony and blinds - were far more urgent (and effective!) than double glazing. That saved us from having to make one of the really big investments upfront and we could get to the double glazing later. I got to work on draught proofing straight away and that helped a lot https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/37d12e66-e269-4305-bc5b-e65d69da1e64/Screenshot+2025-03-10+at+6.50.53%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Noirit and Steve planned the electrification of their town house carefully Noirit: For the ceiling work, we found a plasterer through the Clifton Hill Good Karma Network- he did the ceiling work and installed the insulation at the same time. Straight away, we noticed how really quiet the house became. The architect also recommended some ceiling fans - they help keep the house cool on warm days without needing the air conditioning. We had always wanted to install solar panels, so while the ceiling was exposed, we went ahead and installed a solar system. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/19b7923c-92e2-40bb-8ac0-51f845896a90/Screenshot+2025-03-10+at+7.06.12%E2%80%AFPM.jpg Yarra Stories - Noirit and Steve planned the electrification of their town house carefully Steve: Because our townhouse has no external walls, getting wiring from one place to another is a challenge so it was great to install the solar while the ceiling was down. We went with micro-inverters, that saved us having to find a place for an inverter, just a small gateway near the switchboard. Surprisingly, out of all the big things we did, the solar system was relatively low cost. Next up was to bite the bullet and replace the windows and doors onto the balcony with double glazing. This was the most expensive thing we did and it took 9 months to get them after we ordered. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/32cc98f4-92e3-4215-8bd0-969d6fec5b26/Screenshot+2025-03-10+at+7.06.14%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Noirit and Steve planned the electrification of their town house carefully - Noirit: Next up was replacing the cooktop in 2024, and we were able to keep the same cutout in the bench by placing a timber cutting board right next to the new induction cooktop. At the same time we replaced the instantaneous gas hot water with a heat pump hot water system. This was challenging because the gas unit was on the upper wall in our small courtyard, but there was enough room to fit the tank and condenser unit. Again, wiring was a challenge, but we wired up the hot water and the cooktop at the same time - we had to run cables across the roof, down into the courtyard and into the kitchen The hot water and cooktop replaced the last gas appliances, and we finally had a fully electric home! We straight away requested removal of the gas meter - that was a wonderful day. Surprisingly, a whole team of workers arrived to get that done, it was a big deal, they dug up the road to cut the gas off completely. Steve: We had been managing our transport ok with a cargo bike but late last year we were lucky to be able to get an EV to use for longer trips away. We live near Piedimontes, so we can use the fast chargers there while we decide if it’s worth investing in a home charger. But generally we make do with a ‘trickle charge’ while we’re at home during the day. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/kristians-no-longer-a-gas-consumer monthly 0.5 2025-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/7910c18b-a9be-4bdc-952a-5c34eb710048/Kristian+portrait+1.jpg Yarra Stories - Kristian’s no longer a gas consumer - Kristian is a researcher in the renewable energy industry. So - in late 2023, when he was fortunate to be able to purchase a late 1970’s house in Clifton Hill, he got straight to work on improving its sustainability. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/201d5771-544f-4176-b4ff-c9b81cd54426/KG+Induction+cooker.jpg Yarra Stories - Kristian’s no longer a gas consumer - The gas space heater was the first bigger thing to go; it didn’t seem terribly old, but was an older style with a glowing ceramic element at the centre. Given I already had the split system nearby, I felt I didn’t need to replace this gas unit with an extra heater in the room. Then there was the instantaneous gas hot water service, which was not only the last remaining gas appliance but also in an awkward spot that interfered with future home improvements. This gas unit was replaced in a new location with a Sanden heat pump hot water system and I was able to fully disconnect the gas - no more monthly gas supply charges! https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/900e739d-e71b-4425-9017-f6c6b802899a/KG+heatpump+hot+water.jpg Yarra Stories - Kristian’s no longer a gas consumer I also intended to add solar to the roof but here I struck a big unexpected issue - the roof was not constructed with tiles but was rather a pressed metal tile “decramastic” roof. After some inquiries I was a little shocked to learn that solar installations are not permitted on this kind of roof because of its low strength. In the end, I used my remaining budget to install a stronger (and smarter looking) Colorbond corrugated iron roof that resolved some old guttering and roof issues, while also getting the roof solar-ready at the same time. The downside is that the unexpected cost of the new roof means that the solar system will just have to wait. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/stephanies-all-electric-apartment-in-fitzroy-north monthly 0.5 2025-02-04 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/f83c11a8-ca10-4e06-a6b9-9be33bd3513b/main+pic+processed+%281%29.jpg Yarra Stories - Stephanie’s all electric apartment in Fitzroy North - After many years working in the early childhood education sector, Stephanie is now retired and reaping the rewards of working step by step to improve her compact Fitzroy North apartment, with one eye on efficiency and the other on sustainability. Electrify Yarra sat down with Stephanie to hear her story. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/694a33dc-6886-4e61-82b8-98b62a400bb4/Cooktop+processed.jpg Yarra Stories - Stephanie’s all electric apartment in Fitzroy North - Next, while making other improvements, I replaced the old oven and cooktop with an integrated electric oven and induction cooktop. That cooktop is unbelievably fast! After a few ‘well done’ meals, I quickly got the hang of it - it’s faster than a kettle to boil water! Luckily almost all of my pots and pans work well with the induction cooktop. Around the same time I removed the old wall heater. I added a ceiling fan in my bedroom to help on the hottest days of summer. As well as these changes, I’ve added a very small evaporative cooler which I can move around the apartment. I have also recently invested in aluminium coverings for my east facing windows to use during summer. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/anna-and-michael-in-fitzroy-north monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/ec6e442c-25c4-4d89-a2ba-ea78ae084030/DSC_6159+floor+heater+Anna.jpg Yarra Stories - Anna and Michael in Fitzroy North Anna and Michael worked for many years for an environmental not-for-profit organisation, so it’s no surprise they began their electrification journey for their Victorian terrace back in 2001. Electrify Yarra sat down with them to learn more. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/17ea0d2e-f670-4b5f-a602-1ca46440d11d/DSC_6158+cooktop.jpg Yarra Stories - Anna and Michael in Fitzroy North In 2019, one of our two gas space heaters broke down and the gas hot water system was beginning to show signs of its age. This was the trigger to take action. We searched around and found a single contractor that could manage the electrical, heating and plumbing project so we ‘bit the bullet’ and in a single day were able to install two split system heater/air conditioner units, a heat pump hot water system and an induction cooktop. We were finally all electric and could disconnect from gas! Finally, this year we replaced some older LED lights to close some small ceiling gaps. We both got up into the ceiling and replaced the older insulation - it had compressed over the years. A bit of a tough job, but we noticed a real difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/63a25122-6f86-467b-8772-3aad4d5d5350/IMG_1314.jpg Yarra Stories - Anna and Michael in Fitzroy North Finding good trades is really hard but critical. We started by checking out tradie trucks in our street and chatting to those neighbours getting work done to see what their experience was like. Even with good tradies, we found we still had to do quite a bit of our own research. As an example, they recommended the usual wall-mounted split system heater/air conditioners. We like being near a floor mounted unit and feeling the warmth. Also, the overwhelming need in this house is heat - much more than cooling. So, we found some great floor mounted heat pump units and had them installed. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/ceb91336-9495-4357-ba1a-f392469abdab/DSC_6162+HWS.jpg Yarra Stories - Anna and Michael in Fitzroy North Also, you’ve got to keep a really close eye on the work as it’s done. Even the best tradies will make their own decisions on where pipes are placed or holes are drilled - and they aren’t always the best or most attractive choices. In our case, we had three trades - plumber, heating work and electrical all going on at the same time, so there were minor things that maybe could have been done more neatly. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/jeanette-and-harrys-terrace-in-north-carlton monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/fe8e5f93-33d4-42de-bc6a-59538baae7cf/A47EC0DE-8608-4CD6-B31C-F0BE6D6470D1.jpeg Yarra Stories - Jeanette and Harry’s terrace in North Carlton - Harry and Jeanette purchased their home in North Carlton in 1990. Originally a bakery, it was converted to a house in the 1970’s and by 2019, it needed some major repairs. Harry is strongly motivated by reducing his carbon footprint and took the first step to drive up their efficiency along with the major repairs. Harry shared his electrification story with Electrify Yarra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/d27ff535-3649-4995-8a92-72d0a43e14ec/D0D023C5-1307-4433-B44B-4F6FB0159647.jpeg Yarra Stories - Jeanette and Harry’s terrace in North Carlton - It was a great day when we cut off the gas. Through our retailer, we had it cut off at the mains - they came and dug up the road. Nobody is going to connect gas back to this house! Our next big step was to add a battery in March 2022. Finally, after 15 years of living happily without a car, mostly using bikes and car share, our circumstances changed and we needed one. We found a second-hand EV and it has worked out well - it’s cheap to run and maintain and it’s a rocket ship! We charge it using the public chargers at the Collingwood library. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/7f7b1d4f-047c-4622-b6d3-96af8f332a5d/3339BFDE-6F39-4A8F-AC7F-E63181E218A8.jpeg Yarra Stories - Jeanette and Harry’s terrace in North Carlton I'm really aware that compared to most people on the planet, my carbon footprint is enormous. Sometimes you see the way the world is going, and as technology came on the scene, we took advantage of it. But it’s not just the ethical side - we save real money. Our highest annual energy cost before the changes was $2,102. Last year it was $186. We changed suppliers and signed up for Amber Wholesale - this gives us a dynamic, not fixed, feed-in tariff and the 13 kW/h Tesla battery makes it possible to sell our excess energy at a higher rate. On our best day so far we earned $64, on the worst we paid $9.74. We set it up to reserve the last 20% of battery capacity and Amber’s modelling takes care of the rest. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/d796c1cc-7c6e-44a9-9bc7-c6d855af4205/259A3A5F-7D6C-43A7-9B93-AF079665B611.jpeg Yarra Stories - Jeanette and Harry’s terrace in North Carlton - I would like to replace our cooktop with an induction cooker at some time, if we can find one that avoids major changes to the kitchen. We have reached full electrification for this house and are really enjoying the efficiency and cost savings. On a wider front, it would be great if we could get several more electric vehicle chargers in the City of Yarra. I wish we could see the city and state consider providing finance for electrification that is repaid together with council rates, and attaches to the property, not the owner. There’s a good social case to be made for more help to buy batteries. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/haley-in-fitzroy monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/f306f437-9826-4604-8b1f-b8936907ebfa/Screenshot+2024-09-04+at+11.42.49%E2%80%AFAM.jpg Yarra Stories - Haley in Fitzroy - A renters perspective Haley moved to Yarra from regional WA in early 2023 for study and work opportunities, and, like so many Yarra residents, she has experienced the ups and downs of share-house and rental apartment living. Haley knows more about energy efficiency than many renters - she is currently completing a masters degree in sustainable energy systems engineering, and she has used this knowledge to drive real improvements. She shared her experiences with Electrify Yarra when we spoke with her recently. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/0de0768e-5e87-4545-a211-06b01dff94d7/Screenshot+2024-09-04+at+12.16.51%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Haley in Fitzroy - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/8ec60122-80bf-4009-8841-36c8dd01c290/Screenshot+2024-09-04+at+12.04.46%E2%80%AFPM.png Yarra Stories - Haley in Fitzroy - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/marie-and-carls-story-renovating-with-efficiency-in-mind monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/dbda7398-51c4-43b9-b1fd-32bffe1071d7/Screenshot+2024-08-15+at+3.17.14%E2%80%AFPM.jpg Yarra Stories - Marie and Carl in North Fitzroy - Renovating with efficiency in mind Carl and Marie completed a major renovation of their terrace house in North Fitzroy and moved in with their two children aged 6 and 3 in mid 2023. Renovating gave them an opportunity to build-in much more efficiency for their heritage Victorian terrace house, and make it all-electric. Carl, a communications specialist, shared their motivations and key decisions with Electrify Yarra. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/f8f83002-a069-4a18-a00e-4655b09cd749/Screenshot+2024-08-15+at+3.33.22%E2%80%AFPM.jpg Yarra Stories - Marie and Carl in North Fitzroy - What has been your electrification journey so far? The older parts of the house had typical challenges - two party walls, little or no insulation, draughty fireplaces with a traditional front window. Since we were restumping, we were able to add under-floor insulation. We added R6 ceiling insulation, sealed the fireplaces and added heat-pump heating and air conditioning. The council would not approve double glazing in our front room, so we added honeycomb blinds. The house had a small (1kW) solar system when we purchased it, and we cleaned the panels, updated the monitoring and pre-wired for potential future expansion. At the rear and upstairs, which were newly built, we were able to fully double glaze and insulate. Downstairs in the new kitchen and living area, we chose a bulkhead heat pump heater/air conditioner and induction cooktop. Since we were building this part of the house from a blank sheet of paper, we had the advantage of designing the roof to accommodate a heat pump hot water tank and its condenser unit - as well as the two condenser units for all four of the house’s heat pump heater/air conditioners. This saved us valuable space in both our courtyard and light well. We couldn’t be happier with our design decisions - the house has been transformed from an energy efficiency rating of less than one star to between six and seven stars. We have not needed heating in the upstairs spaces, and the house is cosy, quiet and almost totally draught free. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/greg-and-anita-in-clifton-hill monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/20d4f200-119d-46b0-b185-9ee3d1759574/greg%2Cpng.png Yarra Stories - Greg and Anita in Clifton Hill Greg is an electrical engineer working in the energy sector. Greg and partner Anita have lived in their Clifton Hill house since 2012 and, with a growing family, are working through options for extending and renovating it and so are in the planning stage of their electrification journey. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/brendan-and-khloe-in-princes-hillnbsp monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/100614d4-1bc9-4724-9a19-77538c3eb4a2/Image+16-9-2024+at+4.49%E2%80%AFPM+2.jpg Yarra Stories - Brendan and Khloe in Princes Hill - Brendan is a licensed electrician and as the founder of Get Off Gas, is passionate about electrification and helping others to electrify. Brendan and Khloe generously opened their house during the recent Sustainable House Day. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-1/michael-and-pennys-journey-to-electrify-their-90-year-old-converted-drill-hall monthly 0.5 2024-12-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/13bef226-97b2-436f-b7c6-3878a97fba34/Screenshot+2024-12-05+at+1.27.15%E2%80%AFAM.png Yarra Stories - Michael and Penny’s journey to electrify their 90-year old converted drill hall - When we took possession you could see the sky through the tin roof, so there was no insulation and there were electric radiant heaters. The first thing we did was insulate; we put in very heavy insulation. Next, we started looking at solar options and in 2012, we went ahead and put solar panels on top. Our next step was to invest in an electric car - that increased our electricity consumption so next we doubled the size of the solar array. At the same time we were able to replace our hot water with a heat pump unit and replace the gas stove with an induction unit. We have done it incrementally when money was available. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/home daily 1.0 2025-12-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/3bd44bd6-7139-4346-ab70-0c3e0d795e54/Screenshot+2025-03-13+at+7.32.54%E2%80%AFPM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/a3bd56ab-7c20-4c55-bff0-45b68b3a4cec/2.png https://www.electrifyyarra.org/solar daily 0.75 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507787878-OU0LRBPDG0SJ7P2RCPN8/2.png Solar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507787882-1QQ45IPEKG15QMGFB8N1/4.png Solar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507787887-M30BYHPLGIZC6SKY2YTG/Web+drawings+%282%29.png Solar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507787892-JQXYE9483JWXOJB1P7G6/Web+drawings.png Solar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507787896-EA13PTNFDDZ9C3E8E5HR/5.png Solar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507787900-0O3ZDIRIRVI7WSRZOQTS/3.png Solar https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507787865-9WVGHVD1O14685QZ5ULL/Cost+of+grid+electricity+vs+solar.png https://www.electrifyyarra.org/water daily 0.75 2025-08-11 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Hot water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Hot water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Hot water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Hot water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Hot water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Hot water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507796733-HI8BGW3Y3XR9UUOLQ5TO/Hot+Water.jpg Hot water - The humble hero While hot water is a big energy user, it is also one of the most flexible household loads on the grid meaning it can play a big role in a more efficient and clean energy landscape. Unlike an appliance like your stove which you use at a certain time, with a good electric heat pump you can choose when your system heats your water and consumes energy. This control can benefit both your energy bills and the grid, as your hot water tank effectively acts as a large cheap home battery. You can store energy as hot water when electricity rates are lower, or if you have solar panels you can heat your water when you’re producing solar power, making free hot water with zero emissions. When we consider all our hot water systems together, they become an important piece of technology to combat our domestic emissions. By using more efficient electric hot water systems, and using them smarter, we can create a cheaper and cleaner electricity grid for everyone. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/66c7f7a3-04e8-4a20-8b8c-11bd66002924/Screenshot+2025-03-19+at+11.23.27%E2%80%AFPM.png Hot water https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507796804-P6QEHSV43B4DMQZ7123C/Hot+Water+Feature+Comparison.png Hot water https://www.electrifyyarra.org/rebates daily 0.75 2024-01-30 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Rebates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Rebates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Rebates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Rebates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Rebates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Rebates https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Rebates https://www.electrifyyarra.org/learn daily 0.75 2025-03-17 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507813063-08S44SLYJV5O9A7VKSIX/Electric+Vehicle+%28EV%29.png Learn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507813070-GHD9OAC8IMRMIGJ2UJJC/Rooftop+Solar.png Learn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507813074-7RCJ8N7K3EEVHFD2TTDZ/Hot+Water.png Learn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507813078-3FOON1HAMJ263XSFAWJA/Heating+Your+Home.png Learn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507813082-YYZ4XIPRYJJF43OW2YBW/Cooking.png Learn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507813086-JYMYJHNHTUSWJH2BWERK/Home+Batery.png Learn https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507785692-6NFO15GZV87IY9JD9XFJ/House+without+grid.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507813045-WWLV9853YMAAL45S8IMD/2966246171_63cd54a46d_o.jpg Learn - Electrify everything! ”If we electrify everything, we don’t just help address the climate crisis, we create a world that is cheaper, cleaner and fairer for every household” Dr Saul Griffith, Rewiring Australia Our community group has teamed up with electrification experts Rewiring Australia to try to electrify our community. We’d love you to get involved. Can you start by completing this short survey? https://www.electrifyyarra.org/guide daily 0.75 2024-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507815801-LSQ5F0H25MYU7VPV3XUH/oz-lawn-sign.jpg Household Guide - Make it stand out Whatever it is, the way you tell your story online can make all the difference. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507815810-EMCM2YNJC9Z2IOP53NI1/Screen+Shot+2022-11-17+at+4.52.15+pm.png Household Guide - Make it stand out Source: Rewiring Australia https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507815815-S4BJXBEHI613BGL7F8SU/Cost+of+grid+electricity+vs+solar.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507815820-ZJFT0K9FL4Z29R7U565L/Screen+Shot+2023-11-10+at+6.18.34+PM.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507815825-TQFTTM9ZQPGFWCH5YUMG/Water+heaters+Lifetime+Running+costs.png https://www.electrifyyarra.org/faq daily 0.75 2024-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/a9386be4-ad9b-4497-a0d7-81feedaf656e/Image.jpg https://www.electrifyyarra.org/contact daily 0.75 2024-12-09 https://www.electrifyyarra.org/learn-1 daily 0.75 2024-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507826143-11Y4TZXOAFJTZTZ9GVPX/Ursula+Mum.jpg Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507826159-HXLO8M2EU99BR4HXOXJK/Solar+usage+graph.png Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507826170-K7TX0MKEQ370M3BVREZ7/Community+assets.png Community https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507826123-G41FJ8PDSTAZREWDHMMJ/2966246171_63cd54a46d_o.jpg Community - Community Our community means everything to us. We help each other when there’s a crisis and we share great friendships. We can also collectively reduce our energy bills by electrifying our homes, businesses, school and community centres. We partner with other community groups to help them unlock the power in electrifying. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507826181-PG96WLBX1FC8UCTEYK8B/DSC01318.jpg Community What else are we doing? https://www.electrifyyarra.org/battery daily 0.75 2024-02-08 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507828116-1WG021DDJSMNBEARLWCB/2.png Backup Battery (content to finalise) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507828126-NWE6246QUDLEX8CYV931/4.png Backup Battery (content to finalise) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507828143-5I6T6PQ27W5FIM5TBPCD/Web+drawings+%282%29.png Backup Battery (content to finalise) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618511387030-5LI1E5QMVTQ2RY9S00A4/20140228_Trade+151_0046+1.jpg Backup Battery (content to finalise) https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507828067-5DHH6IA8HN9QAYW91YDJ/Vehicle+energy+price+comparison.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507828078-Y39NKHOZ817GS1XO790T/Vehicle+costs+over+10+years.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507828096-GAYR65LT7SB1EZTIPEJ2/EVs+how+they+work.png https://www.electrifyyarra.org/electricvehicles daily 0.75 2024-12-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507829917-AQFHFHEMMM1UGZTOOF44/2.png Electric Vehicles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507829929-SRHYG078JXRG2Q3QX6I1/4.png Electric Vehicles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507829946-RNVXDHZZTOQZK3TQCZSM/Web+drawings+%282%29.png Electric Vehicles https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507829892-FVRP6DWPFLOJUZA141D3/Vehicle+energy+price+comparison.png https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507829897-2MM3K2E2AFIHS3VDPEG0/Vehicle+costs+over+10+years.png https://www.electrifyyarra.org/about daily 0.75 2024-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/382293e7-01cd-4c99-ab15-54bc4c0f7516/Fitzroy+North+aerial+MAIN.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/bcf5c8c5-cabd-41e0-9eea-e67a147477d8/EY90.jpg https://www.electrifyyarra.org/heating-and-cooling daily 0.75 2025-03-19 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1618497259178-6XJGK9GR6YAVBQL5L519/20140301_Trade-151_012-2.jpg Heating & Cooling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694644871-IC85FNH781UNZSZEGHDR/Aro+Ha_0428.jpg Heating & Cooling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5ec321c2af33de48734cc929/1607694583486-2PQT0LQ193RL7MCB6DX4/20140228_Trade+151_0046.jpg Heating & Cooling https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507821799-NLJXRWGB3RQ9NP5U9BBW/Heating+Your+Home.png Heating & Cooling - The humble hero Reverse cycle air conditioners, much like hot water systems, play a significant role in the dynamic landscape of energy efficiency and clean energy usage. Unlike fixed-use appliances such as a refrigerator, a well-designed reverse cycle air conditioner offers greater control over when and how you use energy. This flexibility is key to optimizing both personal energy costs and overall grid efficiency. With a reverse cycle air conditioner, you can choose to heat or cool your home during off-peak electricity times, potentially reducing your energy bills. For households with solar panels, this can mean utilizing solar-generated electricity to run your air conditioner, tapping into a renewable source of energy and minimizing carbon emissions. The heat pump technology that is found inside reverse-cycle air conditioners is incredibly efficient, up to 600%! This means that they use a small amount of energy to produce a large amount of heat. This efficiency is represented by a coefficient of performance (COP) – a ratio of the amount of heat moved to the electrical input into the unit. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/d7155a58-5afd-4e83-ae18-4d5ecc4c3f13/Screenshot+2025-03-19+at+11.23.31%E2%80%AFPM.png Heating & Cooling https://www.electrifyyarra.org/cooking daily 0.75 2026-03-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507821811-SU5I4JYHXRZ5MU52WH06/Cooking.png Cooking - The humble hero Induction cooktops use an electromagnetic field to directly heat your pots, rather than heating an element or burner. This process effectively transforms your cooking pot into the heating element itself, enabling quick and efficient cooking. It’s important to distinguish ceramic cooktops - old fashioned electric elements under a sheet of glass - from induction cooktops, which look very similar but are vastly different in tech and performance. Induction cooktops are fast, easy to clean, and easy to control Sustainability Victoria highlights that induction cooktops are twice as efficient as traditional gas and electric stoves. Using less energy for cooking saves you money and reduces carbon emissions. Health and safety are also crucial factors. Studies indicate that cooking with gas negatively impacts health, contributing to 12% of childhood asthma cases. Induction cooktops help in maintain cleaner air in the home. Also, as the surface of these cooktops stays cool while cooking, they lower the risk of accidental burns. https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/237332b3-0c4e-4b4a-8b97-7841d8f96a39/Screenshot+2025-03-19+at+11.23.35%E2%80%AFPM.png Cooking https://www.electrifyyarra.org/batteries daily 0.75 2025-10-03 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1702507821821-XL61Y07DJLHRP6KJB4LZ/Home+Batery.png Batteries - Household battery Batteries contribute to cost savings by reducing the need to purchase energy from the grid. They also promote a reduction in emissions by allowing households to utilise a greater proportion of clean solar energy. A battery system stores solar energy that isn't used during the day, making it available for use at night or on days with limited sunlight. The trend of including batteries in solar installations is gaining momentum. For many, the appeal lies not only in the economic benefits but also in the environmental impact. Additionally, for some individuals, it's a way to express their desire for independence from traditional energy providers. It is worth noting the financial impact of batteries. Batteries will allow you to use more clean solar energy, but they are still reasonably expensive. This means the payback period can be very long. However, prices are continuing to fall, and government rebates and incentives may be available to offset the initial cost. From July 2025, the federal government introduced the Cheaper Home Batteries Program - initially funding around a 30% discount on eligible small scale battery systems attached to new or existing rooftop solar. Download a home battery fact sheet here https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/702f8873-0cfc-4ec7-959d-68c4df6c03ed/YEF+Community+Battery+%282%29+%28smaller%29.jpg Batteries - Fitzroy North Community Battery! A community battery is a mid-scale energy storage unit which is embedded in the electricity network and allows for shared energy storage. Essentially, community batteries act as a ‘solar sponge‘ – storing excess clean, cheap solar energy which is generated by rooftop solar arrays within the community. It stores this energy for later use in the day when demand is higher and the sun no longer shining. This time-shifting of energy allows local residents to use more of the renewable electricity they generate during the day, at the times when it is most needed. You can learn more about them here. https://www.electrifyyarra.org/yarra-stories-2 daily 0.75 2024-07-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/86ff1af8-5942-4b5c-b369-794485d42fe4/Carl+edited2+photo+1.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/3e4fa21e-c4ed-441f-815f-a64fc5a00a01/DSC_3197.JPG https://www.electrifyyarra.org/subscribe daily 0.75 2024-10-02 https://www.electrifyyarra.org/useful-links daily 0.75 2024-11-29 https://www.electrifyyarra.org/useful-lins daily 0.75 2024-12-15 https://www.electrifyyarra.org/renters daily 0.75 2025-04-29 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/1841c6a8-9355-4e24-8fe6-c6aa4beddf9c/Draughtproof+house+higher+res.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/b63b525f-0ca6-4765-807b-5640539df977/IMG_2722.jpg https://www.electrifyyarra.org/news-and-events-1 daily 0.75 2026-02-18 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/657a3509a6fe351cd14ba099/291d0a8d-5ef5-49b6-b59b-6e1755511a25/Screenshot+2026-02-15+at+3.13.19%E2%80%AFAM.png