Russell’s story
Russell is a retired communications and electronics engineer who recently completed a postgraduate masters in energy systems. He and his wife live in a 1930s double brick home in Glen Iris.
Why are you electrifying your period home?
I got interested in getting off fossil fuels after working in Asia where I saw telecommunications using unreliable power grids often needing diesel generators. It got me thinking, “How can I do things which have less impact on the environment?” I'm also a big proponent of fix your own backyard first, and then influence your neighbours and workplace.
Photo Julian Meehan
The journey so far
We are empty nesters. We've got a big house with lots of living space and bedrooms, so we close off unused areas and try to only heat where we are.
It’s been renovated multiple times and has a range of different window types - some rattle in the wind. We've got good ceiling insulation, but I have been very slow at draught sealing – it’s not exciting work.
In 2011, we installed a small solar system and got a premium feed-in tariff, so the system paid for itself reasonably quickly. The premium tariff, which runs out later this year, means we pay a small amount annually for electricity.
We've got a largish gas ducted heating system and three split-system air conditioners that have been progressively installed over the last 10 years. We use the split-systems apart from the middle of winter where they're just not effective enough. Using the gas ducted system really hurts because for three months, gas costs us about $300 a month.
Five years ago, we renovated the kitchen and put in an induction cooktop with a gas wok burner sitting next to it because I couldn't convince my wife to go 100% electric.
Then three years ago, we got an EV. I just love driving past petrol stations and it costs about $5 worth of electricity a week charging at home.
We've still got one petrol car, but the EV does most trips. We decided the best thing for the planet is to keep our 15-year-old station wagon while it's still going.
Photo Julian Meehan
What’s on your electrification wish list?
Getting off gas by changing the gas heating system to a heat pump ducted system, using bottled gas for the gas burner in the kitchen and switching our gas hot water to an electric hot water system.
My plan is to install more solar because it's only a small three-kilowatt system. If we've got a bigger solar system, then we can use it for hot water and charging the car during the day. Home battery economics are still challenging.
What advice would you give to other homeowners in Boroondara?
Go to the Victorian Energy Compare website every six months so you are comfortable you are on the best possible tariffs.
Get an energy auditor to review your energy use and provide advice around leak proofing and draught proofing your house.
If you are renovating, keep draught proofing in mind and ask the plumbers and sparkies to make sure they're backfilling all those holes they've made for pipes and wires. I got cold toes standing in front of my coffee machine in the morning because the air was leaking from underneath the lovely modern looking kitchen cabinetry.
If you've got roof space, put solar on and if you’ve got two cars in the driveway, one of them should be electric. You will save a hell of a lot of money, and you will never want to drive your petrol vehicle again because EVs are just so much fun to drive.