Geoff Webster
Ellerslie · 2 people, 170 m² · Battery, EV, Heat pump, Induction cooking, Solar
We feel proud for contributing to less fossil fuel use, and we love driving the EV.
$3,660 saved per year
What's in your electric home?
We have two heat pumps for heating, and no gas except for a BBQ. We have an induction cooktop, and a timer on our (resistance heated) hot water to maximise our solar usage. We have the usual appliances and haven't invested in heat pump hot water or washing machine/dryer, but may still investigate that.
When did you start, and why?
We started about 2004 with a heat pump for the cost savings. We built a new house in 2017 and avoided using gas. In 2021, we bought an EV and the same year we had solar panels installed for cost savings, to lower pollution and free ourselves from the national grid.
How much have you saved?
From solar power we estimate we have saved $150/month, and in summer our monthly charge should be a credit.
What do you love most about it?
We feel proud for contributing to less fossil fuel use, and we love driving the EV - it is very quiet and peppy.
How has it changed your behaviour?
Every time we have a major non-electrical item up for replacement, we electrify it. One of our next large purchases is a second vehicle to replace our ICE car. It might be years before we find the right mix of utility and affordability, but our next vehicle will definitely be an EV.
Any advice?
If you are installing solar, always install more panels than your current needs or you may regret it (like us!). We upgraded our system recently and added a battery. Good quality 16 kW batteries are now under $5000, so much more affordable than when we started.
Solar: 5 kW, 13 panels
Battery: 16 kWh
Vehicles: 1x EV, 1x ICE