Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation 1 Apr 22, 2013 6:21 pm We've just been surprised by our builder by a quote of ~$8500 to get the gas mains up to our house. It's got to come a fair way down the street; and we were told MUCH more when we asked the same question 7-8 years ago. I'm trying to decide whether it's worthwhile, given the following factoids: (*) we're planning on getting aircon (so - a gas heating system & a different aircon unit?) (*) we've designed the house to be moderately zone-able (*) we had been planning on installing solar cells on the roof (*) we're aware that in Sydney you have to boost a solar water heater approximate 20% of the time; making solar+electricity generally not as energy-efficient as cells+heatpump (*) we do have fairly limited north-facing roof space (so not a lot of room for solar heating + cells) (*) I'm told electricity is the preference for cooking (*) gas instant heating is a lot cheaper than electric heat-pump, but there are gumbyment rebates which claw most of that differnece back (AFAIK?) (*) we intend on having fairly decent insulation (no downlights poking holes in upstairs roof insulation, highest R-value that will fit in walls), we're getting double-glazing & thermally-broken frames, we've fiddled the design a bit to get winter sun as much as possible coming through north-facing windows which're as large as possible and then have them all shaded in summer, we should be set-up to utilise north-easterlies in summer. In typing out that list, it's sort-of not sounding like gas is worth the effort; the ~$8500 could get a solar array to cover a decent whack of our daytime power usage even in winter (maybe even set the reverse-cycle aircon to run on a low setting while we're not there & the cells are generating ... ?). Thoughts? Suggestions? Re: Trying to decide whether gas is worth the cost 2Apr 22, 2013 6:38 pm $8500 would get you a 5kW (or more) solar system which would meet most of your energy needs with no ongoing cost. Provided you can find enough roof space. The same price to get gas to the house and then pay for usage and service charge doesn't make sense to me. Go solar is my vote. hi guys. Please be nice. First time home builder in Qld. I would like some feedback please on whether I should build my granny flat first before my main house at the… 0 4589 I thought this would be a popular question but I haven't been able to find any similar posts. Perhaps I'm wording my searches wrong? When you have car insurance and the… 0 6619 |