October 2026
Making the Switch participants report positive results
Armidale Regional Council’s Making the Switch program is continuing to deliver positive outcomes for participating households, with recent survey results showing strong satisfaction among residents who have replaced their wood heaters with reverse cycle air conditioning systems.
A mid-trial survey has now been completed, with participants highlighting a range of benefits from the switch. Many reported greater convenience, improved temperature control, less mess inside the home and cleaner living spaces following the removal of wood heaters. Participants also noted how quickly their homes could be heated and cooled using the new systems.
Feedback from participants who used the cooling function over summer was particularly positive, with many describing improved comfort during warmer weather. Survey responses also indicated that many households are considering further energy efficiency upgrades, including solar panels and battery storage systems, although upfront installation costs remain a common barrier.
While responses regarding energy costs were mixed, many participants indicated they had not yet received a full winter electricity bill. However, a number of respondents believed they were already saving money overall when the cost of purchasing or collecting firewood was taken into account.
The Making the Switch project will continue to collect data and participant feedback to help inform future initiatives aimed at improving home heating, energy efficiency and air quality across the region. Residents can learn more about the program on Council’s website.
December 2025
Thank you to everyone who applied for the Making the Switch project. We had 67 households express an initial interest in the program, and 16 households have now been confirmed as participants.
For those that did not go ahead, some householders were reluctant to remove their wood heater, some were concerned about power outages, and some were concerned about the cost of switching to electric heating.
The August snowstorm made a big impact on recruiting, as some households reconsidered their heating needs during power outages. However, many households were already considering a switch to electric heating, and the project provided the support they needed to make the change.
Currently, installations of new electric heating systems and removals of old wood heaters are underway, with completion expected by early 2026. The project will continue to collect feedback and data from participants throughout 2026 to help inform future efforts to improve home heating, energy efficiency, and air quality in the region.