Why local expertise matters in the era of electrification

This is sponsored content for Carbon Savers.

Living in an increasingly connected world has many perks including being able to work with people across the globe. But when it comes to some projects, local knowledge is priceless.

Home electrification is one area where local knowledge can mean the difference between an effective system and one that misses the mark.

"The economics and requirements depend heavily on local conditions," Carbon Savers general manager of sales Oliver Howard said.

These include:

Oliver leads electrification strategy at Carbon Savers, helping customers transition to all-electric homes through informed, solution-driven guidance.

His advice for people starting the electrification process is to start with the biggest energy users first like heating and cooling and hot water.

"Solar, heating and cooling, and hot water usually deliver the fastest wins," Oliver said.

But don't stop there, think of the electrification process as a whole-home plan. Ensure upgrades will work together before installation to prevent costly changes later.

Map out usage. Using an energy bill and a list of appliances generate a list of what appliances are being used, when they are used and how much they cost.

Finally, check for rebates early, eligibility and product lists matter, and programs can change over time.

But what about the best time to get started with the electrification process? There can be a few key moments that make it easier to switch, other than simply wanting to upgrade and remove gas appliances to reduce exposure to gas price changes.

When hot water systems or air conditioning units are at end-of-life, this is the cheapest moment to switch as they require replacement regardless.

Another great time is if you are planning to install or have already installed solar panels.

"This improves the economics of electric upgrades," Oliver said.

"And if you are eligible for available incentives, programs such as Victorian Energy Upgrades (VEU) discounts, Solar Victoria rebates, or federal Small-scale Technology Certificates (STCs) can reduce upfront costs for eligible technologies."

While these rebates are great incentives and help to reduce the cost of the switch over, without understanding the fine print rebates can be missed or invalidated.

"Using non-approved products or installers can result in the rebate being denied and warranty complications," Oliver said.

"The order of upgrades also matters. Doing it wrong can mean missed rebates, oversizing, or unnecessary electrical upgrades."

It's not just the rebate assurance that local knowledge brings, it's also the expertise, qualifications and overall process.

The Carbon Savers team ensures two of the most common installation faults are avoided.

This includes the wrong sized system being used and the poor placement of heat pumps.

"Oversized systems don't run efficiently and undersized systems never keep up," Oliver said.

"If the heat pumps or outdoor units have poor airflow due to placement they will be noisy, have reduced efficiency and suffer early wear."

Avoiding mistakes and giving customers the best systems possible to suit their needs is possible thanks to the qualified, experienced and dedicated team.

This includes the licensed tradespeople (electricians and plumbers), solar accreditation, program compliance experience, clear documentation and using products from approved product lists to be eligible for rebates where possible.

"For solar installations, check that the installer holds current accreditation under the national solar accreditation framework (administered by Solar Accreditation Australia) and that components meet federal Small-scale Renewable Energy Scheme (SRES) eligibility requirements for STCs," Oliver said.

To explore your options, contact Carbon Savers to connect with your local home electrification expert and experience the difference local knowledge can make.