Hot Water Systems in Forrest
The 2603 postcode, covering Forrest, Griffith, Manuka and Red Hill and surrounding areas, is home to around 4,678 households. With many households already generating their own clean solar power, many are now looking at how they can make their entire home energy system more efficient, with hot water heating often the logical next step.
With hot water roughly accounting for a quarter of the average home's energy use, switching to an energy-efficient hot water system is one of the biggest opportunities for savings. Across Forrest and the 2603 area, 167 homeowners have already switched from older electric storage and gas hot water systems to solar hot water or air-source heat pump systems that draw on clean, renewable power while also claiming the hot water rebates to reduce their hot water heater system cost. These highly-efficient systems not only help cut energy bills but also reduce carbon emissions and improve overall energy independence.
With Forrest's climate delivering an average of 4.8 kWh/m² per day, conditions are ideal for hot water systems and hybrid heat pump systems that harness both sunlight and ambient air temperature to heat water efficiently all year round. When paired with existing rooftop solar power or solar batteries, the result is hot water that costs far less to run and is powered by clean, self-generated energy.
Hot Water Ranking
Postcode 2603
17th
State Wide
1123rd
Australia Wide
Hot Water Installation Forrest
Estimated daily energy to heat household water, comparing a resistive electric element with a high-efficiency heat pump. Demand shifts month-to-month using local climate patterns.
Energy Efficient Hot Water & Solar Power Forrest
* Data from the Bureau of Meteorology. Closest station: N/A.
Solar Powered Hot WaterForrest
Illustrates how a typical 6.6 kW rooftop solar system can offset the daytime energy demand of a COP 5 heat pump hot water unit.
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Heat Pump Hot Water Systems for Forrest
Compare heat pump hot water systems suitable for Forrest's climate. These energy-efficient systems are designed to work in local temperature conditions and can significantly reduce your hot water energy costs.
Community Hot Water Statistics - Forrest, 2603
Hot Water Demographics - Forrest
Based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (ABS), Forrest has around 4,678 private dwellings, home to approximately 9,555 people. With an average household size of 2.3 people, and around 50 litres of hot water used per person each day in Australia, Forrest households use approximately 115 litres of hot water daily, equating to a massive 0.5 million litres of hot water used across the suburb every single day.
Other census insights reinforce Forrest's suitability for energy-saving improvements like energy-efficient or solar-powered hot water. The Forrest community is home to 739 couple families with children and 127 one-parent families, meaning a large proportion of households face substantial hot water demand. With 1,336 homes owned with a mortgage and 1,268 owned outright, many residents also have the homeownership and growing equity that make switching to efficient hot water systems a practical way to lower expenses.
Forrest is converting hot water demand to efficient systems faster than many peers, with 3.6% of dwellings already upgraded.
Hot water systems in Forrest
Across Forrest, more homeowners and businesses are rethinking their hot water system and moving to efficient options like a heat pump hot water system, solar hot water system and modern electric hot water system. With an average household size of 2.3 people and more than 4,100 dwellings, hot water is a big chunk of energy use here. Many homes are owned outright or with a mortgage, and with strong median household incomes, upgrading from old gas or ageing electric hot water to an energy efficient hot water system is a logical next step to cut bills and emissions.
Forrest’s sunny climate helps too. The local Manuka Oval weather station records around 17.2 MJ/m² of solar exposure a day on average – roughly 4.8 kWh/m²/day – which is ideal for a solar hot water heating system and also supports efficient operation of a heat pump hot water system. That means better performance from solar hot water vs electric hot water alone, and lower running costs over the long term. With many separate houses as well as a large number of apartments, there is strong demand for compact, reliable systems and professional hot water installation and hot water repair services.
In 2603, the mix of three‑ and four‑bedroom homes, plus plenty of families and older residents, creates steady hot water demand. Hot water energy use can easily be a quarter of a home’s electricity if you are still on old electric hot water vs gas hot water. Swapping to the most efficient hot water system you can reasonably afford makes a noticeable difference to annual bills, especially if you already have rooftop solar. Forrest has seen growing interest in brands like Rheem and Rinnai for solar hot water installation and efficient electric hot water installation, while premium heat pump options such as Sanden and EvoHeat are popular with households chasing the best heat pump hot water system and very low running costs.
Typical annual savings for Forrest homes are substantial when you upgrade:
• Old electric to heat pump hot water system: save around $400–$800 per year on bills. • Gas to heat pump hot water system: save roughly $300–$700 per year. • Gas to solar hot water system: save about $250–$600 per year. • Old electric to modern electric hot water system run on solar: save around $300–$700 per year.
Recent installs in Forrest show this shift in action. There have been 167 efficient hot water systems installed in the postcode, combining heat pump hot water installation and solar hot water installation. Installations grew steadily through the 2000s, with standout years like 2005, 2008, 2009 and 2011, and a strong spike again in 2020 as more locals focused on electrification and lower running costs. This pattern reflects rising interest in energy efficient hot water, solar hot water vs electric hot water, and future‑proofing homes as gas prices and environmental concerns increase.
Hot Water Rebates, Tariffs & Savings
For Forrest residents, replacing an old gas or resistive electric unit with a heat pump, efficient electric hot water system or solar hot water system is easier thanks to rebates. Federal incentives like Small‑scale Technology Certificates (STCs) effectively discount the solar hot water price / cost and heat pump hot water price / cost at the point of sale. On top of that, ACT and other state‑based programmes can offer a solar hot water rebate, heat pump hot water rebate or electric hot water system rebate that further lowers your upfront hot water system price / cost. These hot water rebate act discounts can slice a substantial percentage off the system and installation, shortening payback times to just a few years for many Forrest homes. Combine that with timers, smart controls or solar diversion and you can maximise self‑consumption, making a heat pump vs solar hot water decision more about roof space and budget than long‑term savings, because both can deliver hundreds of dollars a year off bills.
If your current unit is more than 10 years old, running on gas, or you are facing a solar hot water tank replacement or ongoing solar hot water repair costs, it is a good time to check if your Forrest home is ready for a hot water upgrade. Working with experienced hot water ACT installers like us – including heat pump, rheem solar hot water, rheem heat pump hot water, rinnai solar hot water, sanden heat pump and chromagen solar hot water specialists – means you get tailored advice on the best hot water system Australia options for your property. With Forrest’s strong solar resource and growing focus on sustainability, an efficient hot water system can cut bills, reduce emissions and future‑proof your home. Connect with our trusted local experts for personalised hot water ACT guidance and see which hot water rebate ACT options you can tap into today.