Give your home an electric shock (24 Aug 2024)
Kate Chaney wants to electrify her electorate by helping households overcome the hurdles to making their homes more energy efficient.
Floreat couple Adrian and Milissa have already done the legwork on their home and will be part of an event on Monday organised by the Curtin MP at which they and others will be available to answer the community's questions.
"It certainly didn't happen overnight," Milissa said of electrifying their home. "But I absolutely recommend it now that we're here. "We don't have a power bill at all. It is may be $200 a year but with the rebates that everyone is getting at the moment we're actually in credit. "Since moving in December 2011, on average the house has produced 100% of the electrical energy that has been consumed," Adrian said.
Their other saving comes on their electric car. Milissa cannot remember the last time she went to a service station, and they have never had to service the Tesla they bought two years ago.
Their home in Floreat was built in 2011 to minimise their environmental impact and be solar passive. It includes features ranging from insulated brick cavities, light-coloured paint and roof to retractable awnings to let in or block out sun, solar panels, induction stove, a battery for power storage, reverse cycle ducted air-conditioning, and lower ceilings in the bedrooms.
The outlay was expensive for the big-ticket items like solar panels ($6000) and the battery ($14,000). But they recommend making the changes bit by bit, rather than all at once.
Ms Chaney said the new campaign "reflects the strength of our community's commitment to a cleaner, greener future." "Electrifying our homes is one of the most impactful steps we can take toward a sustainable future, and the Electrify Curtin initiative is all about empowering our community to make that change," she said.
The launch event will be held between 6 and 7.30pm at Scarborough Main Hall. Register at www.electrifycurtin.com.au
Related article: Curtin lays out the path to net zero (17 Feb 2024)
