August 11, 2022

PITY THE POOR LUDDITES:

Australia's oldest gas utility says 'switch to electric' (Sophie Vorrath, 11 August 2022, Renew Economy)

"Choosing to go all-electric can not only be cheaper but can also help reduce your CO2 emissions."

Who said it: Was it 'Electrify Everything' champion Saul Griffith, or the utility formerly known as the Australian Gas Light Company?

If you guessed Griffith, you are wrong.

On a page titled "How choosing electricity over gas can help you and the environment," AGL Energy details the bill and emissions savings households can make by switching from gas hot water to electric, from gas heating to electric, and from gas cooking to electric.

"While gas heaters can quickly warm up a room, they're becoming more expensive to run due to rising gas prices and inefficient technology in older models," the page says.

"Heat pump technology, on the other hand, can help reverse-cycle air conditioners turn one unit of thermal energy into three-to-six times as much heating or cooling energy, allowing them to operate at 300-600% efficiency.

"Unlike a gas heater, you get two functions out of one system. Plus, heat pumps can reduce your energy bill by a third of the cost of heating with gas."

On stoves, AGL says that while cooking with gas is quick, "two-thirds of the heat energy from your stove will end up in your room, not your pot.

"In fact, of all gas appliances in your home, cooktops are the most inefficient (generally achieving 30% efficiency)."

Of course, this is increasingly becoming common knowledge, thanks in no small part to the tireless work of people like Griffith, and energy efficiency advocate Tim Forcey, who tipped us off to AGL's updated view on gas in homes.

Demanding economic inefficiency for ideological reasons has been a losing hand since the Monolith first appeard.

Posted by at August 11, 2022 1:54 PM

  

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