Locals can learn about the benefits of ‘electrifying’ their home at a talk next week.

Electrifying a home means replacing current uses fueled by natural gas, propane, gasoline, or fuel oil with electric appliances. 

While lights, dishwashers and ovens may be electric, there are still many households which use gas for water heating, space heating, plus petrol and diesel for driving.

New community group Electrify Wānaka will be speaking at the Wānaka Library this Saturday (January 18) about the benefits of switching to electric.

Group secretary Pierre Marasti said he went ‘fully electric’ six years ago. 

“Our household has one electric vehicle, electric hot water, electric heating and rooftop solar plus a battery system. While there are upfront costs attached, we are now in a situation where our energy is free,” Pierre said.

“I want to share our experience so the whole community can reap the benefits of electrification: a better economy, better health and a better environment. That’s why we started Electrify Wānaka.” 

Electrify Wānaka is supporting the work of Rewiring Aotearoa, a NZ-non profit, which aims to help more Kiwis ‘go electric’.

Rewiring Aotearoa CEO Mike Casey said the Southern Lakes has one of the highest per capita rates of electric vehicles and rooftop solar installation in the country.

However, it is a small percentage overall “so we need to rapidly increase those adoption rates”.

This Saturday’s talk will take place at 11am. Contact Wānaka Library to book a spot.

PHOTO: Wānaka App