Supporting Your Home Electrification Journey
We’re here to help you take simple, confident steps toward electrifying your home.
Whether you’re just getting started or ready to look at specific options like heat pumps, hot water heating, induction cooktops, EVs, or solar panels, we can help you create a warmer, healthier, more resilient, and more affordable home that’s better for the planet. You can ask as a question, or read our Frequently Asked Questions too.
Electrifying your home consists primarily of 6 decisions
These decisions can save you a few thousands dollars every year on energy bills, combined they can reduce more emissions more than any other actions. They can also provide a level of energy resilience that enables you to keep your lights on and home warm in a natural disaster.
Heating
Summary
Heat pumps are 3x to 4x the efficiency of gas space heaters, a Queenstown home heating rooms with bottled gas at the moment can expect to save about $1000 - $2000 per year on energy bills if they swap it out for electric heat pumps.
Water Heating
Summary
Hot water heat pumps use about 70% less energy than gas water heaters, a Queenstown home switching from bottled gas to an electric heat pump can expect to save about $400 - $800 per year, even more when combined with solar.
Vehicles
Summary
Electric vehicles are about 4x more efficient than petrol vehicles, and can save hundreds or often over a thousand dollars a year on fuel costs depending how much you drive.
Cooking
Summary
Induction cooktops are 2x - 3x more efficient than gas, can boil water faster, save money on bills, and improve indoor air quality. They are easier to clean as a bonus.
Rooftop Solar
Summary
Rooftop solar is the lowest cost electricity for most homes New Zealand, and can often save around $500 - $1500 per year all costs included. Financing solar means you can save money from day one.
Batteries
Summary
Batteries can further lower energy bills especially when combined with solar, and crucially provide backup energy resilience especially relevant with Queenstown's AF8 earthquake risk.
Where to start
All of your appliances and vehicles have product lifetimes, for example an appliance might last 10-15 years. It's important to know you don't need to do everything at once, the breakdown point is a great moment to electrify, but you need to be prepared. When the shower starts running cold, you won't have much time for planning! Some thinking ahead on can make sure you don't lock in a decade of emissions, and instead lock in ongoing lower bills for your home with electrification.
Some things, like rooftop solar and water heater replacement, often already stack up economically and environmentally to do straight away. Win-win!
How we can help
Helpful tools and resources
Every household we support helps us build resources that others can use too. This includes information about what different upgrades might cost, how much you could save on your bills, and how they’ll make your home more resilient and comfortable. Over time we’ll keep adding easy-to-use guides, checklists, and real-life examples to make the journey to electrification easier for everyone.
Community and events
We host regular events where you can hear from experts, see new technologies in action, and connect with locals who are also making the switch to cleaner energy. These gatherings are a chance to learn, share experiences, and get inspired. You can also join the QEA Community WhatsApp group to stay in the loop and be part of the conversation.
Home energy advice
Thinking about switching to heat pumps, adding solar panels, or getting an EV charger? We’ll help you understand what makes sense for your home and budget, and what the benefits could be for you and your whānau.
We don’t sell products, so our advice is completely independent. Our goal is to help you make the best choices for your home, without the sales pitch.