The City of Sydney is inviting feedback on a discussion paper that explores how to make new developments all electric in an effort to cut emissions, create healthier homes and ease cost-of-living pressures.
Green Square aerial development. Image Credit: Lucinda Varney Airview Group
The discussion paper, which is open for public comment now, explores the benefits and challenges of phasing out gas.
Lord Mayor of Sydney, Clover Moore AO said continuing with electrification plans is vital to meeting the City of Sydney’s carbon reduction target by 2035.
“We remain in a climate crisis, which means we need to pull every lever we have in order to keep reducing our emissions,” the Lord Mayor said.
“To rely on gas means a continued cost for our hip pocket, a continued cost for our health and a continued cost for our planet. It is a price that we simply cannot afford to pay.”
With gas prices projected to keep increasing due to shortages and network charges, each new household would save around $626 a year in energy bills in an electrified development. Electric systems are more efficient, use less energy, and with just one connection and daily rate, save occupants on additional gas service charges.
Replacing gas cooktops with electric induction appliances would offer significant health benefits. Exposure to pollutants from gas cooktops has been found to have a similar health impact as passive smoking.
The City of Sydney is considering several options to move away from a reliance on gas in new developments:
- Requiring appliances to be electric in new residential developments only
- Extending these controls to electrifying hot water systems in new residential buildings
- Only electrifying appliances and systems in new commercial, industrial and business developments
- Expanding the controls to cover major refurbishments of existing buildings.
“There are a number of possible steps we could take in order to help our community move away from gas but it is vital we fully understand the impacts for our residents and industry,” the Lord Mayor said.
“We want to know if people agree with the benefits of electrification, whether certain industries should be exempt, the approach preferred and any potential challenges to overcome we haven’t flagged in our report.”
Once public comment closes, the submissions will be incorporated into a report which will be considered by Council.
The paper is open for comment until Monday 05 May. Visit sydneyoursay.com.au for details.