I have long considered installing solar panels and a Tesla Powerwall in my home. This story of an Australian family saving $5,700 on their electricity bill may have changed their minds.

According to Natural Solar, an Australian Tesla Powerwall and solar panel installer, this is what happened to the Pfitzner family, who say they were the first family on the Australian continent to install a Powerwall four years ago. Looking back at their electric bill, the family claims to have saved $5,700 so far.

The setup is very simple. A Tesla Powerwall (or similar device) can be installed in any home. It is a set of smart batteries in an electronically monitored package. The package is connected to an energy generator, such as a solar panel. The Powerwall then supplies power to the entire house.

This system ensures that the entire house is constantly supplied with energy. At night, the Powerwall provides all the energy. During the day, when the output of the solar panels cannot keep up with the demand of the house, Powerwall makes up for it.

There is no need to install a solar system. Some homes use these batteries to get energy from the standard power grid when prices are low (such as at night or at certain times during the day) and store it for later use, thus keeping prices down. However, it is clear that the savings would be dramatically greater if there were a way to generate their own energy. So much so that they could be completely disconnected from the power grid.

This doesn't seem like a lot, but it is worth noting for two reasons:

First, the Pfitzner family must consume a lot of electricity. They have a four-bedroom house, complete with washer and dryer, and air conditioning; they must wash a great deal of clothes in a year and cool and heat a great deal of air. The fact that the family also has "state-of-the-art appliances, a swimming pool, and an outdoor recreation area" is noteworthy, as they have saved $5,700 over the past four years.

The best part, however, is how they are recouping their costs based on these savings: the Pfitzners spent a total of $10,800 to install a Tesla Powerwall, solar panels, and all the hardware necessary to run their home on solar energy. They spent a total of $10,800. They calculate that they will recoup all their investment in just seven years, after which it will all be free energy.

Natural Solar claims that payback typically occurs after 20 years. I will help save the planet, but I may be dead by then. But seven years seems like a more attractive proposition.

Cutting the cord has other advantages besides saving money and breaking free from the ever-greedy conedisons of this world. Moving to solar energy will go a long way in reducing our daily carbon footprint. By leaving the power grid, the Pfitzners have reduced their carbon footprint by an estimated 6 tons per year. In other words, it's the perfect triple whammy for your pocketbook, your heart, and your mood.

Knowing all this, I don't understand why this type of battery, whether from Tesla or anyone else, is not mandated for all new homes worldwide. Not only would they contribute significantly to reducing carbon dioxide emissions, but the industry would grow exponentially, bringing new jobs and money into the economy. This is the kind of realistic global environmental protection that everyone can agree on.