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cool change – energy smart suburbs
The Earth’s natural resources are limited and as a community, we need to find ways to use these natural resources more efficiently.
ENERGEX invites you to be part of phase two of our Cool Change trial exclusive to the suburbs of Albany Creek, Arana Hills Bridgeman Downs, Bunya, Everton Hills, Everton Park, Ferny Hills, Ferny Grove and McDowall. The trial aims to manage the demand for electricity caused by the increasing installation and use of air-conditioners. This year’s trial – Cool Change – Energy Smart Suburbs – expands the focus from one or more air conditioning units within a household to other nominated appliances, such as hot water systems and swimming pool pumps.
It won’t cost you anything and you’ll be helping to advance research into energy efficiency that will help ENERGEX to sustainably plan for the development of new power infrastructure in South East Queensland. ENERGEX values your assistance and will pay eligible participating households cash and incentives worth up to $500* to be part of the Cool Change – Energy Smart Suburbs trial. *The total amount of cash rebates is dependant on the number of nominated household appliances involved in the trial (e.g. up to three air conditioning units per household, swimming pool and hot water systems), plus the length of a household’s participation in the trial – up to three years.
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what is the Cool Change – Energy Smart Suburbs trial?
Cool Change is a trial by ENERGEX, partnering with the community, to help manage demand for electricity—and that’s good for the environment and the cost of supplying demand.
To apply to participate, you will need to be the owner and occupier of your residence, operate an air conditioner in a living area and (or) have a swimming pool.
The trial is limited to approximately 1,800 homes in the trial area – Albany Creek, Arana Hills, Bridgeman Downs, Bunya, Everton Hills, Everton Park, Ferny Hills, Ferny Grove and McDowall.
ENERGEX seeks to fit energy-saving devices on certain household appliances in eligible participating homes, enabling the appliances to be remotely cycled by ENERGEX for a few minutes in 30 minute blocks during periods of peak demand. The aim is to reduce energy use in peak times without impacting on customer comfort or convenience.
This technology is similar to the control we already manage for hot water systems in many homes across South East Queensland.
how does the device work?
On air conditioners: An ENERGEX contractor will install a device onto the compressor of air conditioning units in eligible participating households. The work undertaken will be covered by a warranty of up to three years (or for the length of your participation in the trial) against any damage caused by the installed devices. Air conditioners already switch off their compressors and cycle only with the fan several times an hour. The device just varies the number of times the compressor switches on and off. This means your air-conditioner uses electricity more efficiently, without impacting on your comfort levels.
On hot water systems: an ENERGEX contractor will assess your electrical hot water system to ensure that it has the storage capacity to have a device fitted that switches the hot water heating system off during peak hour periods. Most hot water systems only heat water for 3-4 hours a day and the rest of the time the hot water is stored in an insulated tank, ready for use. The Cool Change – Energy Smart Suburbs trial ensures that your hot water is not heated during peak periods. The technology has been widely used on electric hot water systems in Brisbane since the 1950s without affecting performance, or customer convenience.
On swimming pool pumps: a device will be installed on your pool pump that will remotely switch the filtration device off for during peak hour periods. However, the device does have an over-ride switch, so if you want to keep the pump running while swimming, you can press a manual over-ride button to re-start the pump. Please note: devices will not be fitted onto swimming pools in households participating in the trial until winter 2009.
why is ENERGEX trialling a Cool Change?
ENERGEX is committed to improving network performance. As a responsible electricity distributor, ENERGEX is researching ways to use electricity more efficiently, to conserve our natural resources, while still meeting customer demand.
The number of households with air-conditioning is rapidly increasing. This has a considerable impact on energy use, especially on those few days of extreme temperature in summer.
ENERGEX needs to build millions of dollars worth of infrastructure to cater for these few days of peak electricity use, but this infrastructure is not needed for the rest of the year. The cost of this infrastructure has a financial effect to the end user—you. By participating in this trial with ENERGEX to better manage electricity demand, you’re helping to find a smarter, more efficient way to use electricity.