Hot Water Systems in St Kilda
The 3182 postcode, covering St Kilda, St Kilda South and St Kilda West and surrounding areas, is home to around 14,989 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 St Kilda and the 3182 area, 151 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 St Kilda's climate delivering an average of 4.2 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 3182
325th
State Wide
1176th
Australia Wide
Hot Water Installation St Kilda
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 St Kilda
* Data from the Bureau of Meteorology. Closest station: N/A.
Solar Powered Hot WaterSt Kilda
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 St Kilda
Compare heat pump hot water systems suitable for St Kilda'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 - St Kilda, 3182
Hot Water Demographics - St Kilda
Based on the Australian Bureau of Statistics 2021 Census (ABS), St Kilda has around 14,989 private dwellings, home to approximately 19,851 people. With an average household size of 1.7 people, and around 50 litres of hot water used per person each day in Australia, St Kilda households use approximately 85 litres of hot water daily, equating to a massive 1.3 million litres of hot water used across the suburb every single day.
Other census insights reinforce St Kilda's suitability for energy-saving improvements like energy-efficient or solar-powered hot water. The St Kilda community is home to 874 couple families with children and 239 one-parent families, meaning a large proportion of households face substantial hot water demand. With 2,707 homes owned with a mortgage and 1,797 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.
St Kilda is converting hot water demand to efficient systems faster than many peers, with 1.0% of dwellings already upgraded.
Hot water systems in St Kilda
In St Kilda 3182, more locals are swapping old gas and ageing electric units for a modern hot water system that is cheaper to run and kinder to the planet. With a high proportion of apartments and smaller households (average household size is just 1.7 people), a well‑sized heat pump hot water system, solar hot water system or efficient electric hot water system can comfortably cover daily demand without wasting energy or roof space.
St Kilda’s sunny bayside climate is ideal for efficient hot water. The local weather station at Prahran records average solar exposure of around 15.1 MJ/m² per day – roughly 4.2 kWh/m² of sunshine – which strongly supports both heat pump hot water and a solar hot water heating system. With nearly 11,800 occupied dwellings and solid median household incomes, upgrading from older gas or resistive electric units to an energy efficient hot water system is a logical next step for cutting bills. Many households can save hundreds of dollars per year on hot water energy use alone.
Across 3182 there are 151 efficient hot water installations already on record, mainly heat pump and solar hot water installation jobs. Uptake really picked up from 2006 onwards, with notable spikes in 2009, 2010, 2014 and again in 2018 as rebates improved and energy prices climbed. The more recent trickle of systems reflects steady, ongoing interest in electrification and lower running costs rather than one‑off boom years.
For a typical St Kilda apartment or townhouse, the most efficient hot water system is often a compact heat pump hot water system such as a Sanden heat pump, Rheem heat pump hot water unit or similar premium brand, especially when paired with rooftop solar. For larger homes and townhouses, a roof‑mounted solar hot water system from brands like Rheem solar hot water, Rinnai solar hot water or Chromagen solar hot water can deliver strong savings, with an electric booster providing reliable backup. Many locals also consider heat pump vs solar hot water carefully, weighing roof space, shading from nearby buildings and existing solar PV.
Indicative annual bill savings for St Kilda households include: • Old electric to heat pump hot water installation: save around $350–$700 per year. • Gas to heat pump: save roughly $250–$600 per year. • Gas to solar hot water installation: save about $200–$500 per year. • Old electric to modern electric hot water installation with solar PV: save $250–$600 per year.
When comparing solar hot water vs electric hot water, or electric hot water vs gas hot water, the running costs often matter more than the upfront hot water system price / cost. A quality heat pump hot water price / cost may look higher at first, but the lower bills and generous heat pump hot water rebate options can make the payback surprisingly quick. Likewise, a solar hot water price / cost can be offset by federal Small‑scale Technology Certificates (STCs) and Victorian solar hot water rebate schemes, which together can reduce the effective solar hot water system cost by a substantial percentage. There are also electric hot water system rebate offers in some programs when moving away from gas.
In Victoria, hot water rebate VIC programs and federal incentives can significantly lower the cost of going efficient. STCs apply to eligible heat pump and solar hot water systems, while state schemes may add a heat pump hot water rebate or solar hot water rebate on top. For many St Kilda homeowners this means payback periods that drop from 8–10 years to closer to 3–6 years, especially if you use timers or solar diversion to run your hot water system when your PV is generating. Choosing reputable brands such as Rheem solar hot water, Rinnai solar hot water, Sanden heat pump or Chromagen solar hot water helps ensure long‑term reliability and easy hot water repair or solar hot water repair if it is ever needed, including solar hot water tank replacement down the track.
If you are in St Kilda and your existing unit is older, noisy or struggling, now is a smart time to look at the best hot water system Australia has to offer for your situation. Whether you are leaning towards the best heat pump hot water system, a streamlined solar hot water heating system or a simple but efficient electric hot water upgrade, working with experienced local installers makes all the difference. Talk to trusted hot water VIC specialists who understand local apartments, townhouses and heritage homes, and can guide you through hot water installation, hot water repair, solar hot water installation, heat pump hot water installation or electric hot water installation. With St Kilda’s strong solar resource and growing interest in sustainability, an efficient hot water upgrade can help you cut bills, reduce emissions and future‑proof your home – connect with our local experts for personalised advice today.