Home appliances
Electrifying your home
Electrifying your home doesn’t have to happen all at once. The most practical approach is to make a simple plan and look at your major household appliances, note their age, and plan your next purchase before an emergency breakdown occurs.
When an old gas heater, water cylinder, or cooktop is due for replacement, switching to an efficient electric alternative lowers your long-term running costs and cuts carbon emissions.
Key appliances to upgrade
Space heating
Space heating accounts for around 30% of a typical household’s energy use. Modern heat pumps are 3 to 4 times more efficient than gas heaters and standard plug-in electric heaters, giving you efficient heating in winter and cooling in summer.
Hot water
Hot water makes up another 30% of an average home’s energy load. Heat pump hot water cylinders use smart technology to transfer heat from the surrounding air into the water, drastically reducing power consumption compared to standard gas or electric cylinders.
Cooking
Induction cooktops use magnetic energy to heat cookware directly, offering faster, safer, and precise cooking without fossil fuels or gas indoor air pollution.
What to check before you buy
Adding new high-draw electrical appliances can change how much power your home uses at once:
- Ask a licensed electrician to inspect your switchboard and wiring before installing large heat pumps, induction cooktops, or EV chargers.
- Reducing draughts and improving home insulation lowers your overall heating demand, ensuring you don’t buy an oversized heat pump.
- Look for appliances with built-in timers or app controls so you can run hot water heating and appliances during off-peak hours or peak daytime solar generation.
