Community Survey

We conducted a baseline energy use community survey September 2023 (123 responses)

We conducted a follow up survey in May 2025 to obtain feedback on our 2023-24-25 event programs. (This survey was conducted prior to our recent webinar event on All Things Batteries on 17 August 2025)

Preliminary Survey Results 2025 

Responses

• 151 residents responded. However, one respondent only completed half of the survey questions so effectively the survey totaled 150 respondents.

• 44 identified they had competed to 2023 baseline survey but 50 stated they were not sure! (Check is yet to be completed). 

Location 

• 128 were Bundeena residents. 22 were Maianbar residents.

Ownership / Renters

• 137 respondents were homeowners 

• 13 respondents were renters

Solar Houses

• Most homes had solar panels: 92 vs 48 who stated they did not

• Most solar systems were over 5kW (63 of 92)

• Most were installed prior to 2023 (65 vs 27)

• Reasons for not having solar: cost 21, renting 11, unsuitable house 13 including renovations pending. Only 5 responded they did not want solar.

Batteries

• Not many houses had batteries (30 vs 120). But the survey was conducted prior to the new federal Government battery subsidy scheme introduced in July 2025.

• Of the 30 batteries, 19 were installed after the 2023 baseline survey.

• Reasons for not having a home battery: cost too high, (54), renting (13), don’t know enough about them (18)

Electric Vehicles

• Few respondents had electric vehicles (28) comprising 19 BEV & 9 hybrids.

• 18 of the 28 were purchased after 2023.

• Reasons for not purchasing an electric vehicle: no need to replace their existing vehicle (75), cost (33), concerns over charging and range (8). 

• Only 2 respondents claimed they needed a diesel vehicle and 6 said they did not need a car.

Home Heating

• A large majority of respondents reported they have reverse cycle air conditioning. However, it appears many houses use a range of heating sources. Whereas 46 respondents indicated reverse cycle air conditioning their sole source of heating, another 39 suggested they used other forms of heating with reverse cycle AC.

• 14 listed gas as their sole heating source and another 17 suggested they used gas along with other heating sources

• The same pattern of mixed sources of heating was evident with plugin electric heaters and wood heaters. 20 indicated they used plugin electric as their sole heaters another 16 said they used plugins with other heater sources. 13 listed wood as their sole heating source with another 16 stating the mixed wood with other heaters.

Changes in Heater?

• Only 28 homes changed their heaters during the survey period. Of these 20 switched to reverse cycle AC. Only 1 switched to gas and 5 stopped using wood. The remaining 2 switched to plugin electric.

Hot Water System

• The range of hot water types. Standard Electric (67), Solar (36), Heat Pump (25), gas (16), Instant Electric (2), Not sure (5).  

• It should be noted that Bundeena relies on bottled gas.

Changes in Water Heater?

• 16 respondents reported changes in their water heater during the survey period.

• All new heaters were Heat Pumps

Cooktops

• Cooktop types. Electric Induction (54), Conventional Electric Hotplates (49), Gas (47).

Changes in Cooktop?

• During the survey period 9 people installed a new cooktop. Only 5 shifted to Induction from other cooktop types. One reported a change from induction to gas and the rest reported replacement of the existing cooktop with the same type

Ovens

• Oven types. Electric (145), Gas (5).

Changes in Oven?

• Only 9 respondents reported new ovens, and all were replacements of old electric for new electric models.

Home Insulation?

• Respondents reported 111 homes had insulation, 12 had no insulation and 27 were not sure.

LED Lighting

• Homes with most lights LED (57), all LED (53), some LED (28), no LED (8), not sure (4).

Thermal Rating 

• Respondent’s estimate of their homes’ thermal rating in a range of 1 to 5.

• Level 5 (19), Level 4 (46), Level 3 (54), Level 2 (21), Level 1(10).

Electrify Bundeena Ratings

Information  - how did we do?

• Level 5 (45), Level 4 (35), Level 3 (36), Level 2 (9), Level 1(6).

• Mean Rating for Information = 3.8

Influence Rating

• Respondents rating of the influence Electrify Bundeena had on decisions (range of 1 to 5)

• Level 5 (18), Level 4 (21), Level 3 (40), Level 2 (21), Level 1(50).

• Mean Rating for Influence = 2.6

Home visits - Would respondents like a home visit to discuss energy options?

• Yes (19), No (114), Blank (18)

Suggestions for Future Projects

·   A sample of the more common suggestions for new projects in rank order were Community Battery, Batteries, Bulk Buys, Financing, EV Chargers, Heat Pumps, Home Efficiency.

·   There was also support for taking a break and waiting for new issues to arise!