Electrify everything is the current catchphrase among people concerned about saving on their energy costs and leaving a comfortable future for our kids.
Yet, seemingly, the term is critically misunderstood.
Recently, Zero Emissions Noosa ran a series of forums to help the community answer burning questions they had about the transition from traditional fossil fuels to more sustainable technologies, like batteries and energy monitoring and control systems to reduce carbon emissions locally.
Although these sessions were well attended, it seemed there was much misconception and misunderstanding about what the term means.
Many assume that simply installing solar on their roof ticks the box in offsetting their household energy usage and associated costs. While this is a good start, there is plenty more to be done to reduce everyday household costs and associated emissions.
So, what does electrify everything mean?
In its simplest form it means replacing technologies or processes that use fossil fuels, like internal combustion engines and gas hot water services with electrically-powered equivalents, such as electric vehicles, or heat pumps.
These replacements are more cost efficient, and reduce emissions as electricity generation moves away from fossil fuels to renewable energy sources. Other examples include converting gas cooktops and barbecues to induction. Although counterintuitive, when combined with solar efficient electric appliances, this will help us to achieve our targets as opposed to their gas counterparts.
By electrifying everything in your home or business, including shifting to electric transport and using renewable energy sources to power your electrified home, you will save money on energy bills. By using renewable energy sources, you will also reduce emissions from your home or business.
To achieve the full carbon reduction benefits of electrifying everything, electricity generation needs to shift to renewable sources. Power grids also need to expand their capacity and flexibility to accommodate the growing demand for electricity and generation of renewables.
With tremendous opportunity to reduce emissions by using energy from renewable energy supply chains, electrifying everything is an important strategy to reach the renewable energy targets set at the state and federal government level. These targets have been supported recently by the Queensland government through multiple rebates and incentives.
While in recent years the number of people getting their energy from renewable sources (mainly solar) has been increasing steadily, to reach the necessary emission reduction targets, the speed of this move will need to drastically increase to reach the targets set.
If this all seems intriguing, daunting or somewhat overwhelming, the team at ZEN, supported by Noosa Council and Noosa Junction Association, will be hosting the EV and Electrify Everything Expo between 9am-1pm, 16 June. This is a great opportunity to talk to suppliers of electrify everything products, including electric transport to find out how you can make the switch and save money at the same time.
The Expo will take place at Sunshine Beach Road, Noosa Junction, and will be bigger and better than ever with electric vehicles and components of electrifying everything for your household or business (solar, heat pumps, energy audits, induction cooktops, and more). Come and find out how you can significantly reduce your energy bills and your carbon footprint or emissions.
For more information, visit the expo website at noosaevexpo.com.au
Contact us if you wish to sponsor or exhibit at the event.
Are you interested in finding out more or joining Zero Emissions Noosa? Go to zeroemissionsnoosa.com.au.
