His relatively small but perfectly formed house, which he says was around 15 years in the making, was built with passive house principles, so it requires much less energy to run than a standard home. It also features efficient electric machines and a sizeable solar and battery system.

That combination adds up to much lower bills (possibly $0 for the whole year as he can export excess energy, and that includes charging two EVs), greater resilience (both from volatile energy prices and natural disasters), and better air quality (which is an important consideration in his often smokey hometown of Arrowtown).

As energy prices continue to rise, more New Zealanders are figuring out that they can do what Trent has done, invest upfront in the right technology, and save thousands every year.

Getting off foreign fossil fuels and embracing locally-made electrons - from the grid and from your own rooftop - is a proven way to reduce costs and reduce emissions. And it's not about sacrifice, it's about substitution.

As he says: "Every day all of us can do better in work and play."

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