Electrify Canberra exists to ensure all Canberrans can live in energy-efficient homes. Photo: Electrify Canberra.
A versatile group of volunteers are combining their knowledge and giving up their time to care for the community.
Electrify Canberra is providing advice to Canberrans, focussing on renters and low-income homeowners, on cutting down their power bills while helping the environment.
Electrify Canberra volunteer Robert Gane says he jumped at the chance to help Canberrans experiencing energy wastage by improving their home energy efficiency.
“I was doing a bit of volunteer work for David Pocock and I found out about the work Electrify Canberra was doing,” he says. “I was very interested in learning more about them and helping out in any way I could.”
Outside his full-time job as owner of The Belconnen Electrician, Robert has been offering his expertise to the organisation for more than two years and loves being part of a team that provides such important services to the Canberra region and Australia.
“I’m just trying to make the world a better place in any way I can.”
Robert enjoys advising and encouraging people to get off gas, reduce their emissions, and install energy-efficient equipment to reduce their power bills.
“I love being able to answer questions for Canberrans and give guidance to people on how to improve and run their houses most efficiently,” he says.
“Whether it be replacing gas cooktops or getting people to reassess the insulation in their homes, we just want to encourage everyone to make the switch to a more energy-efficient home, to make sure their home has all their power needs met without the big energy bills.”
Electrify Canberra’s initiatives include Apartment Zero, targeted at renters and apartment owners, and Suburb Zero, a trial to electrify an entire suburb with the greatest electrification need.
The Suburb Zero concept electrifies six key parts of each home including the installation of a rooftop solar system, the addition of a battery to ensure ongoing power, replacing gas heating with an electric reverse-cycle air-conditioning system, and replacing a gas hot water heater with an energy-efficient hot water heat pump.
“We want to see Canberra fully electrified and we’re making that happen by donating our time and knowledge to help people make the switch around powering their homes,” Robert says.
“At the end of the day, we want everyone to come home to a comfortable, energy-efficient home, whether that’s warm or cool, without worrying about the cost.”
The group of volunteers includes a variety of professionals – from designers, website developers and writers to data analysts, electricians and students.
Engineer and author of The Big Switch, Saul Griffith, stands behind the plan to power up Canberra.
Founder of Rewiring Australia and Electrify 2515, Saul has also contributed to energy efficiency policy in the United States. He has since brought passion and expertise to cities across Australia; to electrify as many houses and communities as possible across the country.
To find out more about how to donate your time or money or about how to electrify your home, visit Electrify Canberra.
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