Home-energy guides

Independent, plain-English guides to cutting your power bills — what things cost, which rebates you can claim, how the brands compare, and whether each upgrade is worth it.

Heat pump hot water

Best Heat Pump Hot Water Systems in Australia (2026)

The best heat pump hot water systems in Australia for 2026 — how Reclaim, Sanden, iStore, Rheem and others compare on price, efficiency and cold-weather performance.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

Reclaim vs Sanden vs iStore: Heat Pump Hot Water Compared

A side-by-side comparison of Reclaim, Sanden and iStore heat pump hot water systems on price, efficiency, warranty and who each one suits.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

Heat Pump vs Gas Hot Water: Running Costs & Payback (2026)

Heat pump vs gas hot water in 2026: running costs side by side, what switching saves, the payback, and whether it's worth replacing a working gas system.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

The Real Cost of Hot Water: Electric vs Gas vs Heat Pump vs Solar

What hot water really costs to run in Australia — electric, gas, heat pump and heat pump on solar compared side by side, with the annual running costs.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

Solar

Is Solar Worth It in Victoria in 2026?

Is solar worth it in Victoria in 2026? We run the numbers on a typical 6.6kW system — payback, savings, rebates and the catch with feed-in tariffs.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

6.6kW vs 10kW Solar: Which Size Is Right?

6.6kW or 10kW solar? How to choose the right system size based on your power use, roof, budget and plans for a battery or EV.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

Best Solar Panel Brands in Australia (2026)

The best solar panel and inverter brands in Australia for 2026 — tier-1 panels, warranties, and which inverter to pair them with.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

Victoria's Feed-in Tariff Has Collapsed — What Saves You Money Now

Victoria's solar feed-in tariff has fallen to almost nothing for 2025-26. Here's why, and what actually saves you money now — self-consumption and batteries.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

Home batteries

Home Battery Cost & the Cheaper Home Batteries Program

What a home battery costs in 2026 and how the federal Cheaper Home Batteries Program changes the maths on payback.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17

Rebates

Heat Pump Hot Water Rebates in Victoria Explained

How the Victorian Energy Upgrades, Solar Victoria and federal STC rebates stack for heat pump hot water — and what the 1 July 2026 income threshold means.

Read guide →Updated 2026-06-17