Aussies plan to spend extra $3 billion on batteries and solar panels amid EV splurge

Soaring energy costs fuelled by overseas conflicts are prompting more Australians to ditch gas and upgrade their homes to improve energy efficiency.Australians are increasingly looking to invest in home energy improvements, with batteries topping the list of planned big-ticket upgrades, a new report on energy efficiency and electrification has found.More households are taking steps to improve energy efficiency, including installing solar panels and batteries, while others are disconnecting from the gas network to save on costs, according to the PropTrack Origin Australian Home Energy Report 2026.Australians are collectively planning to spend an extra $3 billion on energy efficiency upgrades compared to a year ago, according to the PropTrack Origin Australian Home Energy Report 2026. Picture: GettyThe report analysed insights from the realestate.com.au Residential Audience Pulse Survey to examine how and why Australians are adopting energy efficiency features, as well as potential barriers limiting progress towards greater electrification.Report author and REA group senior economic analyst Megan Lieu said electrification trends were shifting, with more people adopting electric vehic...