Home batteries can lower electricity bills, and those benefits can be even greater when batteries are coordinated through virtual power plants (VPPs).

But a new report from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) points out that asking people to hand over some control of a battery they’ve paid for requires confidence that it will be used in their best interests. [Read more…]

A three-year Australian trial involving almost 300 households has found participants paid less for imported electricity, earned more from their solar exports and became more confident the energy system was working fairly. [Read more…]

Australia has become a rooftop solar powerhouse, but millions of renters are still missing out on the technologies helping homeowners slash their energy bills — a gap which a new report says could be closed through mandatory minimum energy-efficiency standards for rental properties. [Read more…]

As winter closes in again I’ve set about some improvements to casa del cottage.

So can you retrofit efficiency? Yes, but it’s difficult to get the best results – especially when you’ve already got solar. [Read more…]

NSW is quietly setting the stage for a major change in property marketing: home energy ratings could eventually become mandatory for all homes listed for sale or rent. Starting from mid 2026, sellers and landlords can voluntarily include NatHERS energy ratings in listings, but the government’s policy signals that mandatory disclosure is likely the next step. [Read more…]

A home with a pool that had solar installed by Springers Solar.

Are swimming pools expensive to run? Absolutely, a pool is basically a big hole, which you need to pour electricity into to keep it clean.

Read on while we examine a few ways to minimise the cost and maximise your solar efficiency.

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The Iran war is ushering in an extended period of supercharged oil and gas prices. Experts say Australians can insulate themselves from rising bills by electrifying their home and transport – here’s how.

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Are Australian switchboards suitable for home electrification? Yes. Are some of them going to blow up as loads increase? Also yes.

Read on as we spell out a cautionary tale and some solid advice to minimise the risk of your lights going out.

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If you open the switchboard in a modern, all-electric home, you are increasingly likely to find little black clamp-on rings everywhere.

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You can find plenty of claims online that smart meters are a health hazard or part of a sinister government conspiracy. I’ve had a look and found these claims to be false.

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