Active campaign
Energy at home
FOSSIL OFF! Building a sustainable future, one home at a time
Electrify your household and transport and save money. Did you know you can save more than $1,000 on your energy bills each year by electrifying and improving your home's efficiency?
Savings and emissions figures from the Climate Council's 2023 report Smarter Energy Use. Try their home appliance savings calculator for your home.
Explore
Inside an all-electric Highlands home
Every upgrade on the checklist, in one house. Scroll through it to see what each part does.
Explore
Step inside an all-electric home
Scroll to walk through a Highlands home that runs on clean electricity, one upgrade at a time.
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Rooftop solar
Panels make clean electricity from the sun all day. Use the free, not-for-profit SunSPOT calculator to see what your roof could generate, then compare quotes.
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Insulation and draught-proofing
The cheapest energy is the energy you don't use. Ceiling insulation, sealed gaps and good curtains keep the warmth in through a Highlands winter.
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Reverse-cycle heating and cooling
An efficient reverse-cycle split system heats in winter and cools in summer, in place of a gas heater.
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Induction cooktop
Faster than gas, easier to clean, and no indoor gas pollution. It boils water twice as fast as gas.
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Heat pump hot water
It works like a fridge in reverse, moving heat from the outside air into your water. Replace gas or an old electric storage system, and set it to run while your solar is making power.
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Electric car charging
Charge from your own solar in the middle of the day and your driving runs on sunshine, with no tailpipe pollution.
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100% renewable power
Whatever your home can't make itself still comes from the grid. Make it clean with a 100% renewable plan: it's one phone call.
All done
That's a fossil-free home
Once everything is electric, cancel your gas account and stop paying the daily gas supply charge for good.
Tap a number to go back to that part.
Take action
Your electrification checklist
Electricity is cleaner and more efficient than gas, and it improves the comfort and air quality of your home. We've gathered the resources so you can save time and money and make the best decisions.
Tick off what you've done. Your progress is saved on this device only and never sent anywhere.
Fossil free home
Tick off what you've already done.
Step one
Save power, save money
Take action to reduce your energy bills, make your home more comfortable and help our environment.
At any time
- Use less hot water and have shorter showers
- Check energy rating labels when buying appliances
- Upgrade insulation, windows and blinds to heat-proof your house
- Switch appliances off at the wall to use 1–5% less energy
- Switch off lights when you leave a room
In summer
- Use fans instead of air-conditioning
- Each degree warmer on the thermostat can save you 10%
- Close curtains to block out the heat and save around $50 a year
- Open windows in the evening for cross-ventilation
In winter
- By day, let natural light in
- Close curtains and doors at night
- 'Zone' your home by warming the rooms you use most
- Use door snakes to stop draughts
- Rug up and use blankets
Bathroom & laundry
- Washing clothes in cold water can save around $60 a year
- Use the clothesline first and the dryer less to save around $70 a year
- Have short showers
Kitchen
- Wait until the dishwasher is full and use the eco setting
- Use the microwave or BBQ more often than the oven
- Don't overload fridges and freezers
- Clean fridge door seals and replace if worn
- Use lids on pots to keep the heat in
Living areas, garage & garden
- Switch off TVs and entertainment systems at the wall
- Do you really need that second fridge?
- Turn off the pool pump and pool heater during your plan's peak hours (often 4–8pm on weekdays; check your bill)
Download the NSW Government's Top tips to save energy and money, summer tips and winter tips.
Cooking without gas
Healthier air at home
A gas stove or oven produces a range of harmful pollution. For children's asthma, cooking with gas is about as bad as having a smoker in the house: an Australian study found gas stoves contribute to about 12% of childhood asthma cases.
There's nothing like the speed, precision, efficiency and easy cleaning of an induction cooktop. It boils water twice as fast as gas, and it only heats the food, not your kitchen.
Home batteries
Thinking about a battery?
Make an informed decision with SolarQuotes' guide to the factors that matter most when buying a home battery in Australia, from sizing to price.
Meet households doing their bit
Local homes, real changes
From East Bowral to Moss Vale and Bundanoon, Southern Highlands households are insulating, adding solar and batteries, switching to heat pumps and induction, and driving electric.
Ready to join up?
Order your FOSSIL OFF! gate sign
Help spread the word. Together, we can make a difference.
- Raise awareness of the need to switch to cleaner energy
- Show your community you're committed to a fossil-fuel-free future
- Support a campaign protecting our planet for future generations
$20per sign
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Tell us your FOSSIL OFF! story
Electrified your home? We'd love to share your journey to inspire others in the Highlands.