Make the Switch: Heating, Hot Water and Cooking     

Once your home is more energy efficient, you can start replacing gas appliances with cleaner, more efficient electric options. These upgrades can drastically lower your bills and reduce your carbon footprint, while improving comfort, health and safety.  The Victorian government has a range of rebates to make the switch cheaper.

Heating and cooling

Reverse cycle air conditioners, also known as split systems or heat pumps, are the most efficient way to heat and cool your home. They use around one third of the energy of ducted gas heating and can often pay for themselves in reduced energy bills within a few years. If you are short on outdoor space, multi-head systems can allow several indoor units to run off one external compressor. Some units can also be controlled remotely using a phone app or even respond to AI temperature settings.

Hot water

If you are upgrading from a gas or electric storage system, the most efficient option is a heat pump hot water system. These systems operate like a reverse cycle air conditioner, compressing air to generate heat, and can be up to five times more efficient than other systems. It is best to avoid models with an electric booster, which are essentially standard electric systems. For a household of four people, a 300 litre tank is usually sufficient. Heat pumps take a few hours to fully heat the tank but are compatible with solar, allowing you to run them during the day when energy is cheapest or free.

Cooking

A lot of Australians have grown up cooking with gas and many people love the feel of a gas flame under a hot pan. If that sounds like you, you're not alone. The good news is that electric and induction cooking have come a long way since the old coil-top cookers many of us remember. Modern induction cooktops are incredibly responsive and a joy to cook on. You can go from a gentle simmer to a rolling boil with precision, and because they only heat the base of the pot, they are also safer and more efficient.

Induction cooktops use magnetic fields to directly heat compatible cookware, which means no open flame and no wasted heat. They’re cleaner too, improving indoor air quality by avoiding the combustion gases that come with cooking on gas. If you’re not quite ready to part with your gas stove, you don’t have to guess—try it for yourself first. Darebin Libraries have portable induction cooktops you can borrow to test at home.

Even keeping just one gas appliance, like a stove, means you’ll still be paying the daily gas connection fee, which can exceed $100 per quarter. Making the switch not only modernises your kitchen, it can also save you money in the long run.

Get free expert advice

If you would like help choosing appliances, finding rebates or planning your transition, Graham Moore is here to help. He is a retired Associate Professor of Environmental Engineering who now volunteers with DCAN, offering free support to Darebin residents. Graham can meet with you at a café, library or over the phone.

Resources:

Darebin Libraries, borrow an induction cooktop

Quick Links

1. Why Electrify? Understanding the Energy Market and Your Role in the Transition
2. Getting Ready: What to Check Before You Begin
3. Make Your Home More Energy Efficient
4. Make the Switch: Heating, Hot Water and Cooking
5. Solar, Batteries and EVs: Powering Your Future
6. Renters: What You Can Do Now

Darebin Climate Action Now (DCAN) is run by volunteers who want to accelerate the transition to a clean energy future. The information on this website, and provided by our volunteer expert Graham Moore, is general in nature. We recommend you seek independent advice applicable to your individual circumstances.