How going net zero will save South Australians money on energy bills

South Australians can make simple, fast changes to their energy usage and petrol bills by choosing greener ways to live.

South Australians could save almost 50c every time they have a shower, slash their heating costs by two-thirds and make a cup of tea for just one cent, astonishing new research shows.

The analysis, commissioned by The Advertiser, also reveals car fuel costs could be cut by more than half after households are converted to renewable energy.

The research breaks down figures contained in the newly released Rewiring Australia report by globally renowned Australian energy guru Saul Griffith, who is now an energy adviser to the US government.

Rewiring Australia found that by 2030, the average Australian household could save $5,000 to $6,000 a year on energy and vehicle costs compared to now by replacing gas and coal-fired electricity with renewable power augmented by heat pumps.

But the breakdown commissioned by The Advertiser reveals that consumers could in fact see massive savings by 2025, especially if they are using solar power – which is now increasingly available with no-upfront cost.

Energy and carbon consultant, Tom Brdanovic, 48, of Gawler South, said he and his wife Rachel made the decision to install solar panels to reduce their carbon footprint. Picture: Dean Martin

This includes slashing the cost of home heating from an average of $1.98 a day with gas to just 59c a day with an electric heat pump powered by solar. Average car fuel costs would also be cut from 12c a kilometre for a petrol vehicle to just 5c per kilometre for an electric vehicle.

The analysis has even broken down the cost of having a “luxurious shower”, showing it would drop from an average of 66c with gas hot water to just 20 cents with a solar powered heat pump.

And the cost of making a cup of tea would fall from an average of 9c if boiled on a gas stove or 6c with an electric kettle to just 1c under financed solar power.

Dr Griffith, the founder and chief scientist of energy advisory firm Otherlab, said the transformation of suburban power supply would not just cut costs but also be a massive economic and employment boost.

“Rewiring our castles and cars is an enormous opportunity to demolish our power and petrol bills and generate tens of thousands of jobs for tradies,” he said.

“We need to grasp this opportunity. And if we do, the average household will save five grand on their power and petrol bill, every year. The future looks like vastly cheaper energy, better homes and nicer cars, healthier kids and cleaner waterways if we commit to electrification.”

While the “rewired” model is still in the future, households are already able to save money with renewables by using appliances while the grid is being powered by wind and solar and electricity is therefore cheaper.

One Australian company called Amber provides a service telling customers when the grid is flooded by green power.

“In order to move to a future powered by renewables, we need to give people an incentive and the technology to use cheaper renewable power when it is available,” co-founder Dan Adams said.

“The Amber model does this by giving customers direct access to the wholesale energy price so they can directly benefit from shifting their usage to times when renewables are plentiful.”

Dr Griffith said Australia was the best placed country in the world to benefit from clean energy.

“Australia, more than any other country, will benefit from rewiring,” he said.

“We already lead the world in harvesting solar which is why our rooftop solar is the cheapest delivered electricity anywhere in the world. With modest investment and solid commitment we can extend this lead and sell technology and the know-how of wiring it all together to the world.”

The straight-talking Dr Griffith, a Sydney-born engineer who obtained his PhD at the world-renowned Massachusetts Institute of Technology, is widely regarded as a world leader in new energy systems and an adviser to US President Joe Biden.

He said a switch to electricity would make individuals healthier and also improve Australia’s national fuel security.

“Replacing our carbon-heavy devices with clean electrical ones will also make us healthier and more self-reliant,” he said.

“Rewiring means cleaner air inside our homes and vehicles and less reliance on imported diesel and petrol.”

Australian energy guru Saul Griffith, who is now an energy adviser to the US government.

Dr Griffith, an outspoken optimist about Australia’s future, also said it would be “awesome”.

“Electric technology will be awesome fun. Electric jet skis, dirt bikes and boats are on their way. I can personally guarantee that you can do an excellent doughnut in an electric ute,” he said.

“Rewiring is the fastest, cheapest and best way to drive down fossil fuel emissions in our homes and cars. All the technology is here. We just need to get it into homes and driveways as quickly as possible. The next time the hot water service, space heater or gas stove fails, it should be replaced with an electric device, powered by solar.”

Father-of-five Tom Brdanovic inspired his children to consider more environmentally-friendly alternatives to electricity, after first installing solar panels in 2008.

Mr Brdanovic, 48, an energy and carbon consultant from Gawler South, said he and his wife made the decision to install solar panels to reduce his carbon footprint.

“I choose not to leave much of my own emissions behind,” he said.

“I will always choose the option that’s kinder to the environment, 100 per cent.”

Mr Brdanovic said he recently began leasing a Nissan Leaf electric car, that he charges using a station in his garage, giving him “free transport”.

“I think that it’s imminent that we’ll be electrifying most of our appliances and tools that we use for the future,” he said reflecting on his family’s decision.

As time progressed, Mr Brdanovic said he harnessed new technology.

He started with solar panels in 2008 and recently “for the benefit of the environment” purchased a full solar system and battery.

Mr Brdanovic said when one of his children moved out of home, they installed solar panels to reduce their footprint and save money.

“If you’re considering solar for your home, it’s very likely that in years to come you’ll have an electric car,” he said.

Originally published as How going net zero will save South Australians money on energy bills