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If your business premises uses fossil fuel gas for heating, cooking, or other purposes, you will need to start thinking about transitioning to efficient electric alternatives when the time is right.
Heating and CoolingHeating and Cooling
Why it’s important
Space heating is the main use of fossil fuel gas in the ACT. You can save money by replacing your business’ gas heating with an efficient all-electric option. This is one of the best steps you can take to make the switch and help the ACT achieve net-zero emissions by 2045.
Taking action
Installing an efficient electric alternative can be cheaper to run and reduce energy costs. These systems help you maintain a comfortable climate all year round for your customers and staff.
A reverse cycle air conditioner (sometimes called a ‘heat pump’) is a great option for business and commercial spaces. These appliances:
- use significantly less energy than a comparable gas heating system, bringing down running costs.
- provide both heating and cooling using one unit.
- much more efficient than an older air conditioning unit.
- produce no emissions when powered by the ACT’s 100% renewable electricity source or a solar system.
- can require slightly higher upfront costs but ongoing running costs make them cheaper over time.
- come in a range of options including ducted, split systems, bulkhead systems, ceiling cassettes – the most appropriate one for your needs will depend on the size of your space and fit out.
- payback periods can be as little as five years, and even less if also abolishing your gas connection and annual connection fee.
Support available
- The Sustainable Business Program provides advice and rebates of up to $10,000 to upgrade to more energy efficient products. Eligible small-to-medium businesses can apply.
- The Community Clubs Program provides rebates of up to $100,000 for eligible clubs in the ACT to upgrade to more energy-efficient appliances and energy systems.
Depending on your building, heating and cooling systems may be shared preventing you from making individual changes. Our Sustainable Business Team can still provide you advice on improving your business sustainability and reducing energy costs.
Hot Water
Why it’s important
After heating, making hot water is the second highest use of fossil fuel gas in the ACT. You can save money and reduce greenhouse gas emissions by installing the most appropriate and efficient electric water heater for your business.
Taking action
Alternatives to gas hot water systems for your business are readily available.
An electric-powered hot water heat pump is one of the cheapest and most efficient systems available. They have many benefits, including:
- working very well, even in the ACT’s cold winters when temperatures drop below zero.
- their efficiency means ongoing running costs are cheaper than a gas system. For a business that uses 300 litres per day of hot water:
- a hot water heat pump uses about 1,100 kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity costing $380 per year
- a standard electric hot water system, about 3,200 kWh, and costs about $1,100 per year.
- a gas hot water system, about 13,600 megajoules (MJ) to heat (equivalent to 3,780 kWh) and will cost about $450 per year.
- payback times can be as little as five to seven years, and even less if also abolishing your gas connection and annual connection fee.
A standard electric hot water heater can also be a viable alternative. However, these are more expensive to run compared to both gas and hot water heat pumps unless using rooftop solar to heat the water during the day.
You may also want to consider a dedicated solar hot water system to harness renewable energy directly to heat water for your business.
Support available
- The Sustainable Business Program provides advice and rebates of up to $10,000 to upgrade to more energy efficient products. Eligible small-to-medium businesses can apply.
- The Community Clubs Program provides rebates of up to $100,000 for eligible clubs in the ACT to upgrade to more energy-efficient appliances and energy systems.
Depending on your building, hot water systems may be shared preventing you from making individual changes. Our Sustainable Business Team can still provide you advice on improving your business sustainability and reducing energy costs.
Lighting
Why it’s important
Energy-efficient lighting can save money and reduce your business’s energy use. Replacing lighting is often one of the quickest and most affordable ways to improve energy efficiency.
Taking action
Installing LED lamps wherever possible will increase the efficiency of lighting your business. LEDs have many benefits, including:
- lasting for up to six years of continuous run time.
- using 20-80% less power than fluorescent or halogen lamps.
- radiating less heat than comparable alternatives.
- ability to be dimmed.
- being available in many colours, helping you create a unique look and feel in your business.
Further actions you can take include:
- installing sensors in office and staff areas that turn lights on only when people are present.
- ensuring staff turn off all lights when leaving for the evening.
Discover how Scott chose energy efficient LED lighting to replace existing fluorescent tubes.
Support available
- The Sustainable Business Program provides advice and rebates of up to $10,000 to upgrade to more energy efficient products. Eligible small-to-medium businesses can apply.
- The Lighting Efficiency Webtool has been designed to help you check the efficiency of your business lighting setup and suggests possible upgrades in just a few simple steps.
Solar and batteries
Why it’s important
If your business mainly operates during the day; you can reduce your electricity costs with an appropriately sized rooftop solar system. This can support your:
- heating and cooling systems,
- hot water,
- lighting,
- refrigeration,
- computers, and
- other equipment.
Taking action
Rooftop solar systems are available in many sizes depending on your business energy needs. They allow you to harness renewable electricity directly for your business and electric appliances. Solar provides many benefits including:
- being available in many sizes.
- small payback periods, between 3-5 years for businesses that primarily operate during the day.
- excess electricity generated can be sold back into the energy grid, further lowering your bills.
A battery storage system allows you to store excess electricity from your solar system to use at night or in an emergency power outage, depending on system specifications. They can also be beneficial in managing peak energy needs by charging up the battery when electricity rates are cheaper and powering your business during peak, more expensive times.
Support available
- The Sustainable Business Program provides free, expert advice to ACT businesses looking to adopt solar energy.
- The Clean Energy Council provides a list of local accredited solar suppliers.
The ACT Government acknowledges viable alternatives for all business and commercial needs may not currently exist. It’s important to remember the electrification pathway is happening gradually over the next twenty years. We will keep this hub updated to support business’ to make the switch when the time is right.
For free, expert advice on making your business more sustainable, please contact our Sustainable Business Team on 13 22 81 or emailing sustainablebusiness@act.gov.au.
You can also register your interest to participate in forums or workshops on the electrification pathway, by contacting gastransition@act.gov.au.