SwitchedOn Australia Plug in and fight back - Saul Griffith wants a consumer army to fight for energy justice
Aug 27, 2025
Saul Griffith, an engineer and author of 'Plug In', discusses the vital role of households in Australia’s clean energy transition. He argues for electrification as a means to cut emissions and save money. Griffith shares insights from his work with Rewiring America and Australia's energy challenges. He advocates for a consumer army to fight for energy justice, tackling skepticism around the energy industry and the need for innovative solutions. The conversation touches on the future of battery technology and the importance of local solar manufacturing.
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Start With Ready, Money-Saving Electrification
- Prioritize electrification technologies that already save money and scale now instead of waiting for industrial fixes.
- Start with practical household moves and get tradies involved to implement them correctly.
Households Are The Fastest Emissions Lever
- Household decisions (drive, heat, cook, hot water, electricity source) account for ~40% of emissions and are ripe for rapid cuts.
- Focusing on ready, economical household electrification buys time for industrial solutions to mature.
Called By The Minister, Building An Army
- Saul describes being called by the energy minister before a battery announcement as recognition of civil society's role.
- He uses tours to 'build the army' of consumers to pressure government for faster, fairer change.
