News

The Efficiencies of Electrification

Electrification is an important concept which describes a possible consumer-based solution to reduce global warming by reducing greenhouse gas emissions. We are interested in exploring these kind of ideas because we want to find ways to make our business and community more sustainable. In this article we examine electrification – what it is, how it works, and the changes it could make. If you’re on the Sunshine Coast and interested in making your home or business more sustainable, please don’t hesitate to contact our team for some great ideas.

What is Electrification?

When electricity first became available as a means to power households and machines on a large scale, electrification simply meant using electricity to power things.

The concept has evolved from its original meaning to become a word to encapsulate the solution of moving towards clean electrical energy to reduce emissions and reduce global warming.

Electrification is the process of powering things by electricity; it also often means introducing electrical power to replace other power sources.

Global Warming and Greenhouse Gases

A major challenge facing humanity is the increase of the surface temperature of the earth due to greenhouse gas emissions. As gases such as carbon dioxide, methane and nitrous oxide increase in the atmosphere, they create ‘the greenhouse effect’, trapping sunlight and increasing the temperature of the earth. [SRC: BOM]

With Carbon Dioxide levels in 2021 being more than 50% greater than the levels measured in 1750 (414 ppm vs 277ppm) and rising, [SRC: BOM] a concerted international approach is needed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Otherwise, global warming will persist and climate change will not abate. [SRC: BOM] Towards this objective, the Australian government has set the goal of achieving net zero emissions by 2050.

Electrification Solutions: Local, National, Global

The Electrification Solution

The electrification solution involves a 2-step shift in the way we use energy:

Switch from fossil fuel sources and machines to electrical ones
Power these machines by renewable energy sources such as solar power.

Why it Matters What We Do at Home

In our day-to-day lives, the non-renewable energy sources we use produce a large amount (42%) of Australian greenhouse gases. [SRC: Rewiring Australia ] These types of machines include: petrol cars, gas heaters, gas hot water and gas stoves, and fossil-fuel power plants supplying network electricity. The type of energy we use, and the machines we use, affect our national carbon footprint. Converting these fossil-fuelled machines to electrical versions, and powering them from renewable energy sources would enable us to reduce our carbon footprint.

Electrification and Energy Independence at Home

To achieve electrification at home, it’s essentially about:

1. Supply: Powering your home with renewable solar energy which may include a battery depending on the use case and budget

2. Demand: Phasing out machines within your home that use petrol or gas, and replacing them with efficient electrical versions. Examples include:

Home energy > Installing a (smart) solar solution
Petrol Car > Electric Car (ideally with smart charging)
Gas / Electric Heater > Reverse Cycle Air Conditioning
Gas Hot Water > Electric Hot Water / Heat Pump
Gas Stove > Electric Stove / Induction Cooktop
Fossil-Fuelled Power > Solar Power
Lighting – Replacing incandescent lighting with energy efficient LED

More Information

Moving into the Future

The shift to a net-zero emissions future will require a large technological shift in Australia. We are here to support this shift with energy solutions for homes and businesses in and around Noosa on the Sunshine Coast. Contact our team to discuss a solution for your home or business today.

Monitoring Energy Usage at Home

To make sure your home or business is energy efficient, it’s essential to have the capability of monitoring energy usage in real time. Whereas in the not-too-distant past we needed to rely on quarterly reports from energy providers, there is now a wide range of technology available to help consumers understand how they are using energy and how that usage can be optimised.

How to Monitor Energy at Home

Energy usage can be monitored by the installation of monitoring technology between your incoming power source and your appliances. This is especially important for solar installations, since generating your own energy only makes sense if you are optimising the usage of the energy you are collecting.

*Note – all of our solar solutions come with an energy monitoring app so you can track and manage your energy. Learn more about our solar solutions here.

To give you an idea, here are some screenshots that come from our Enphase solar installation at Noosa Electric Co HQ at Noosaville:

Diagram #1

Diagram #1 Notes: This was an overcast day. This day began with the necessity to draw power from the grid [a] before the solar collection picked up [b]. Working with solar power means an increased awareness of weather and solar collection to optimise your power configuration in real-time. Towards the end of the day, solar collection reduced again and a combination of grid and solar power was utilised.

Diagram #2

Diagram #2 Notes: This day also began with overcast weather. However, grid power was rapidly overtaken by solar power. The uneven shape of this graph indicates solar power was coming and going through the day, due to overcast conditions. However, sufficient solar power was collected through most of the day to power our office and export some back to the grid as well.

Diagram #3

Diagram #3 Notes: This day began with rain. After the weather cleared, the rest of the day is in a perfect “football” shape, indicating great solar collection and export to the grid. You can see where our EV was charged later in the day, an event totally covered by solar power. It’s important to ensure this type of major event is covered by solar power.

Diagram #4

Diagram #4 Notes: This is a perfect day of solar energy collection. We did need to use grid energy at the beginning of the day, but that’s because we started work before the sun came up. After this period we enjoyed great solar collection with EV charging being undertaken through most of the day.

Diagram #5

Diagram #4 Notes: This is a perfect day of solar collection. This was a Sunday, so we weren’t using any energy today (apart from the bare minimum to keep things ticking along). Most of this energy was exported back to the grid.

In Conclusion

Solar energy is a fabulous way to collect energy independently, especially on the Sunshine Coast where we have an abundance of sunlight all year round. Making the most of solar energy requires a solar solution and energy management and optimisation. For assistance with your solar solution, please contact our team – we are here to assist.

Appliance Repair Vs Maintenance

When it comes to residential electrical appliances, have you ever considered the difference between repair and maintenance? How proactive is your approach? In this quick article, we explore appliance repair and maintenance to help you find the best way forward to give your appliance a long and useful life. If you live in the Noosa area on the Sunshine Coast and need assistance in this area, don’t hesitate to contact our team. We are experienced in all aspects, offering warranty and non-warranty servicing for most major brands since 1973.

Repair Vs Maintenance – What’s the Difference?

While repair and maintenance are related, the difference is significant. Repair is responsive – an action taken as a result of appliance failure. Maintenance is proactive. It refers to actions designed to keep your appliance in good working order. While repair and maintenance are both necessary functions, a well-maintained appliance is generally less likely to break down and need repair.

Sunshine Coast – Seasons & Appliances

On the Sunshine Coast, appliance usage varies at different times of year. For example, in Summer air-conditioning is used more, and in winter hot water systems and heaters get more of a workout. Meanwhile, coffee machines are on the go all year round! With this in mind, a proactive approach can be aligned with many appliances to ensure they are ready to deliver when needed most.

Do All Appliances Need Maintenance?

Keeping Up with Important Maintenance

Some types of electrical maintenance are more important than others. Smoke alarms, RCD switches, and air-conditioner cleaning needs to be done regularly. A great way to stay up to date with your electrical maintenance is to book a free reminder with our team. We’ll contact you each year to let you know it’s time to undertake your annual maintenance tasks, helping to ensure your home is up to date, compliant and safe.

Costs of Repairs Vs Maintenance

The cost of repairs and maintenance for appliances on the Sunshine Coast will depend on the specific appliance. However, it is worth pointing out that regular maintenance, being proactive, is less likely to leave you high and dry during the peak time when you need your appliance most. Furthermore, most appliances require regular maintenance to ensure they continue to function properly. For example, if you don’t have your air-conditioner regularly cleaned, you will most likely end up circulating contaminated air due to the clogged and dirty filters.

In Conclusion

Repair and maintenance are both essential undertakings for appliance management. In order to optimise appliance longevity and functionality, a regular maintenance schedule will help to proactively resolve appliance issues. We offer a free reminder service for important scheduled maintenance for smoke alarms, RCDs, switchboards and air-conditioner cleaning and servicing to help you stay up to date with your residential appliance safety and compliance.

Book Appliance Repair Online

Appliance Error Codes

Noosa Electric Co specialises in appliance repairs for household appliances such as air-conditioners, washing machines, dryers, coffee machines and microwave ovens. When something goes wrong with your appliance, error codes provide clues to the origin of the problem. In this brief article, we take a look at error codes – what they mean, when they are shown, and what the best course of action is. If you’re in or nearby Noosa on the Sunshine Coast, please contact our team for any assistance with your appliance issues. We’ve been servicing and repairing appliances since 1973, and our team are licensed, qualified and experienced.

Appliance Repair Warning

Appliance repairs should only be undertaken by a licensed and qualified professional. Please contact our team if you need any assistance with your appliance repair. We service Noosa and surrounding suburbs.

Useful Information to Note

If you experience an error code with your appliance, it’s useful to note the setting / part of the cycle you were using at the time, and to take a note of the code itself. This information is helpful for our technicians to resolve the problem with the appliance.

How Error Codes Are Helpful

Appliance error codes are helpful for these reasons:

1. They let you know there is a problem to be addressed – enabling action to be taken before a small problem becomes a big problem.

2. They may bring something to your attention that requires a simple and obvious solution, that does not require technical expertise.

For example, a washing machine error code may indicate there is a problem with a water supply, or an appliance may need to be turned off and on again to reset the system. If in doubt – contact our team.

3. Error codes may bring to your attention that a technician is needed for your appliance repair. This type of situation may involve a part replacement or technical procedure to fix the problem.

Appliance Error Code Standards / Conventions

Unfortunately, there isn’t a standardised appliance error code convention – error codes have different meanings for different types of appliances and brands. For example, depending on your appliance, an ‘E1’ error code might mean a flood fault, an electrical short, insufficient air flow, or a range of other possibilities, depending on the brand and model. With this in mind, it is necessary to look up your appliance error code to understand the specific issue you’re dealing with.

How to Look Up Your Error Code

Here are three easy ways to look up your appliance error code:

a. Look up your error code in the manual that came with your appliance.
b. Look up the error code online. The important thing is to ensure you’re looking up the correct error code. Make sure it is the same brand and model as your appliance.
C. Contact our team for assistance with your error code.

Warranty and Non-Warranty Repairs

The repair process may be approached in different ways depending on the brand, model, and warranty status of your appliance. When you contact our Sunshine Coast appliance repair team, we will help you determine the appropriate process for your repair. This will enable the accomplishment of your repair in the most efficient way.

Multiple Error Codes

The only thing worse than a single error code are multiple error codes. Multiple error codes may indicate the presence of multiple errors, or the possibility of a single error triggering other errors. In this situation, it’s best to contact our technicians for assistance.

Intermittent Error Codes

Intermittent error codes are error codes that don’t appear all the time. This can make it difficult to know if there is something wrong with the appliance or not. In these cases, as mentioned above, take a note of the error code and the way the appliance was being used at the time. Contact our team with this information – it will help to find the origin of the problem.

In Conclusion

1. It’s frustrating when your appliance has a problem, but error codes are the key to diagnosing and fixing the problem.
2. When you experience an error code, it’s helpful to take a note of the way the appliance was being used, or the part of the cycle, during which the code was displayed, and also the code itself.
3. There are different processes for arranging a repair of your appliance depending on whether it is under warranty or out of warranty. Either way, our team can help you with the correct process to arrange your appliance repair.

For assistance with your appliance repair or maintenance in Noosa and nearby on the Sunshine Coast, please contact our team!

Book Appliance Repair

Book a Free SMS Safety Reminder

In many cases, electrical work requires a regular check-up to ensure effective operation, safety and compliance. After all, you wouldn’t want to find out your smoke alarms or RCDs (electrical safety switches) aren’t working on the day they’re needed most. We have a solution – Book a free reminder SMS with our team. We’ll let you know when it’s time to undertake your important annual tests and checks, including:

Essentials: Smoke Alarm & RCD Testing
Electrical Safety Testing & Switchboard Check
Air-Conditioner Cleaning & Servicing
Emergency Light Testing

Book a Free SMS Reminder

Note: This service is available in Noosa and surrounding suburbs on the Sunshine Coast.

	Homeowners	Landlords	Property Managers / Resorts	Commercial
Essentials Smoke alarm & RCD Testing	Recommended	Required	Required	Required
Electrical Safety Testing & Switchboard Checks	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended
Air-Conditioner Clean & Service	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended	Recommended
Emergency Light Testing	NA	NA	Required, Bi-Annually	Required, Bi-Annually

Reminder Benefits

The benefits to taking a systematic approach to your electrical maintenance include:

Smoke Alarms & RCD Testing

Smoke alarms and RCD switches require testing on an annual basis for safety and compliance. In addition to this work, we can help ensure your smoke alarms are compatible with the new legislative requirements.

Learn more about the importance of smoke alarms here

Electrical Safety Testing & Switchboard Checks

Our team will review your switchboard and ensure everything is in order. We will use our circuit testing equipment to review your electrical circuits and provide a professional status report of your system identifying any concerns before they become a safety issue.

See example report
Learn more about switchboard checking & testing

Air-Conditioner Cleaning & Servicing

Regular cleaning and servicing of your air-conditioner is essential to ensure you are circulating clean air and your system is running efficiently. We recommend annually, or every 6 months if you are using the unit regularly.

Learn more about why you should clean your AC regularly

Book a Free SMS Reminder

Electrical Safety Tips at Home

Stay safe on the Sunshine Coast with these electrical safety tips. If you need any assistance with electrical safety, contact our team – we are here to help.

1. Take Action on Faulty Equipment

broken enclosures or cracked plastic covers
discolouration caused by overheating or moisture
water in and around the appliance
frayed cords or damaged plugs
full or dirty filters

If your appliance is in need of repair or maintenance, book in with our team for warranty and non-warranty repairs.

2. Education

Teach household members about electrical safety, especially children. Emphasize the dangers of playing with electrical outlets or appliances.

3. Use Qualified Electricians

For any electrical work, hire licensed and experienced electricians. Hint – That’s us! DIY electrical work can be dangerous and is illegal. Book an electrician in Noosa and surrounding suburbs here.

4. Never Touch Power Lines

Does that sound obvious to you? Keep a safe distance from power lines, especially during outdoor activities like gardening or using ladders. On the Sunshine Coast, we get powerful storms in Summer – take care to avoid any downed lines. If you encounter one (in South East Queensland) —call Energex on 13 19 62.

5. Turn Off Appliances Before Unplugging

When unplugging devices, turn them off first to avoid sparks or electrical shock.

6. Avoid Running Cords Under Rugs

Cords placed under rugs can become damaged, leading to a potential fire hazard. Keep cords visible and secure. If you’re not sure about your cords or power boards, we can assist with tagging and testing to ensure they are safe and functional.

7. Water & Electricity Don’t Mix

Keep electrical appliances and cords away from water sources. Never handle electrical equipment with wet hands.

8. Childproof Outlets

Install safety covers or tamper-resistant outlets if you have young children to prevent them from inserting objects into electrical outlets.

9. Use RCDs:

Install RCDs (safety switches). RCDs can quickly cut off power in case of electrical faults, reducing the risk of electrical shock. If you’re not sure what these essential devices do, or whether you have them, please read this article to learn more: What do you need to know about RCDs?

10. Use Smoke Alarms:

Ensure your premises are equipped with smoke alarms that meet the new legislation requirements. Learn more about the requirements in this article, or contact our team for smoke alarm testing, sales and installation.