Browse Forums Heating, Cooling & Insulation Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 2Sep 09, 2014 5:46 am The Harder You Try - the Luckier You Get ! Web site http://www.anewhouse.com.au Informative, Amusing, and Opinionated Blog - Over 600 posts on all aspects of building a new house. Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 6Sep 09, 2014 10:55 am As for air conditioning freezing in minus temps, I don't really know about that. We recently had a week of well below minus temps overnight. The lowest we got was -5.7C. The warmest night was -4C.All I did in the morning was press the button and warm air arrived. We have had numerous nights well below zero this winter with no problems at all. The aircon has never frozen. I think it all comes down to the make and model of the aircon that you have. Settlement 1/2/12 New Shed 23/3/12 Slab poured 27/3/12 Frame complete 4/5/12 Roof complete 1/6/12 LOCKUP 29/6/12 Our new build blog http://kareenhillsownerbuild.blogspot.com/ Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 7Sep 09, 2014 6:41 pm delatite13 As for air conditioning freezing in minus temps, I don't really know about that. We recently had a week of well below minus temps overnight. The lowest we got was -5.7C. The warmest night was -4C.All I did in the morning was press the button and warm air arrived. We have had numerous nights well below zero this winter with no problems at all. The aircon has never frozen. I think it all comes down to the make and model of the aircon that you have. Yep, I'd agree with delatite13. All RC AC will become less efficient at heating in very low temperatures. However, some will perform much better than others, & will not freeze. RC ductless mini splits (CO2 heat pumps) are starting to be used in the US in many energy efficient houses, where temperatures can get extremely cold. RC AC's are not all created equal, so do your homework. Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 8Sep 09, 2014 6:48 pm To be honest I'm hearing different from other people in Canberra (and colder climates). I know that's the usual spiel but this afternoon if found a number of people who have gone all electric and saved a lot of money and also not had issues with the cold. Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 9Sep 09, 2014 11:14 pm Honestly? If my builder would put in a proper reverse-cycle system, I'd skip the gas entirely. Modern units can be pretty close to running cost-parity and there is always the energy issue - it's possible to generate electricity to run the a/c from a variety of sources but gas is gas is gas and will always be at the mercy of gas prices and supply. Land settled May '14. Building the PD Hoffman39: 5/11=site start, 13/11=slab pour, 26/11=frame complete, 10/12=roof on, 12/12=bricking started. Blog: http://jyndeira.net/blog/ Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 10Sep 10, 2014 7:24 am Its your decision. I'm not sure about this gas price going through the roof - as E would do the same I'd say. Have a look in the book for the A/c system - see if it has a device to "defrost" itself ... I know for a fact they do freeze up. And - you also get the problem of cooler air at the start. Gas is more effective - for heating. If money is the issue - I'd go RC aircon. BUT - get a decent system - make sure it can do the area you want. Solar will save money over time. So - again - is worth it - if - you have the money to do it. Do ACTEWAGL do the deal where they "lend" you the money ? This is a great way to do it. Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 11Sep 10, 2014 8:10 am Saint Mike I'm not sure about this gas price going through the roof I suppose it depends what you mean by going through the roof. The following suggests 17.6 percent. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-23/h ... sw/5406752 Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 12Sep 10, 2014 8:34 am As I understand it the Government is going to open the market up to international prices. So where in the past we have been protected domestically now the prices will go up and be subject to global demand. So this worries me because as pointed out with electric I can produce my own power during the day and can always enlarge that system with gas however I'm stuck. Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 13Sep 10, 2014 9:48 am Good luck with electricity. You will make it during the day and export at 8 cents, and at night buy it at 30 cents. GAS will go up and so will electricity. But remember the 30% increase that you and I read about is on wholesale and not retail pricing. If Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 14Sep 10, 2014 10:22 am B STAR Good luck with electricity. You will make it during the day and export at 8 cents, and at night buy it at 30 cents. GAS will go up and so will electricity. But remember the 30% increase that you and I read about is on wholesale and not retail pricing. If No - much better rate in ACT I think Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 15Sep 10, 2014 11:15 am Technically we are in NSW so it's a higher electricty rate again than the ACT. So it's definitely an economic argument. I know a few owners who before the sun goes down have ensure that their house is at the correct temperature (powered via solar) then during the evenings don't need to heat or cool much since the residual temperature in the house keeps things moderate. Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 16Sep 10, 2014 11:32 am B STAR Good luck with electricity. You will make it during the day and export at 8 cents, and at night buy it at 30 cents. GAS will go up and so will electricity. So what do you do? Size your PV system correctly, & shift as much of your usage to the daytime as possible. Then you're saving 30c per kWh you produce, problem solved. No doubt there will be economical battery storage in the future too. With an appropriately sized PV system to run your RC AC in the daytime, you can heat your house for very low cost. Next, add appropriate levels of internal thermal mass (masonary, concrete or water), located near your heat source. This thermal mass will absorb the heat you produce during the daytime, & re-radiate it in the evening. This is a great solution for a well insulated tight house. Personally, I'd go the all electric house. No gas connection fees, or worrying about increases in gas prices (increases in electricity can be partially offset by your PV). As mentioned, just be careful when selecting your AC. Some perform much better in cold conditions than others. CO2 heat pumps perform best, & do not require electric elements for defrosting (which greatly reduce cold weather efficiency). Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 17Sep 10, 2014 11:36 am Remember in winter you do not produce much electricity and there is not much sun and the sun in lower. I went through all this for my house in Melbourne. I know ACT is much colder. You cant beat gas for heating and hot water especially for a big house. Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 19Sep 10, 2014 11:44 am B STAR Remember in winter you do not produce much electricity and there is not much sun and the sun in lower. I went through all this for my house in Melbourne. I know ACT is much colder. You cant beat gas for heating and hot water especially for a big house. Regarding this, do you have any hard data? Canberra has cold but mostly sunny days in winter and on the east coast the best PV area in Australia. I understood that PV didn't work as well when it's hot so with Canberra hitting 40 degrees for a few weeks in summer I would of thought winter might be better than summer. Found this: http://www.energymatters.com.au/climate ... -solar.php Not sure how/if it factors efficiencies due to heat/cold or just solar radiation. Re: Gas vs Electric Heating 20Sep 10, 2014 12:02 pm Nah no hard data, but your right we should seek it. Even though that your most likely to need the heater when there is no sun thats a given. When the sun in shining through my windows I very rarely use the heater. Also you need to remember the more elec a house uses the unit price goes up. With gas its the opposite. well thats for Melbourne. I prefer gas because its simpler. I didnt put a solar hot water in my house because there would be more componenets to fail hence more operating cost. I worked very hard to keep things simple. Hi everyone! 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