Apartment sustainability and energy savings

View the recording below of a recent webinar to learn about projects to help your strata save on energy bills and make your apartment building more sustainable. You'll hear about:

hot water storage options
LED lighting upgrades
efficient pumps for pools and basements
solar and batteries
EV charging
how to pass a Sustainability Infrastructure Upgrade resolution.

Grab a drink and settle in to watch this informative one-hour presentation with apartment sustainability consultant Brent Clark (March 2025).

Project ideas and resources

Click on the tabs below to find resources, links and advice to help you start a project.

Install solar on your block

Solar in Apartments February 2025 webinar recording presented by Wattblock and Allume. Slide presentations available:
- Presentation Wattblock(PDF, 4MB)
- Presentation Allume(PDF, 5MB)
List of consultants working with strata sustainability in Eastern Suburbs
List of solar consultants working in apartments
12 Steps to Solar for Apartments(PDF, 5MB) - quick overview of steps involved in installing solar for apartments.
NSW Government grants - owners corporations can apply for funding to install shared solar systems on your apartment building. The grants will cover 50% of the cost.
Solar Readiness for Strata Training from Wattblock - this online course is designed for an Owner, Strata Committee Member, Strata Manager or Facilities Manager to improve their knowledge of solar photovoltaic systems and their use on residential apartment buildings.
Check your rooftop using the free SunSpot tool - note that costs will be different for apartments than houses.

Upgrade your lighting

Lighting upgrades in apartments - webinar with Wattblock presented for Mosman and Lane Cove Councils.
NSW incentives - access discounts to lower the cost of replacing your old lights with LEDs.

Minimise your water bills

WaterFix® Strata program – register for a free water efficiency desktop assessment to help minimise levies and water bills in your strata building.

Set up electric vehicle charging

Electric Vehicle Charging in Apartments - Webinar with industry experts and a strata resident who explain how to set up electric vehicle charging in apartment blocks.
Making your residential strata building EV ready - NSW government resources to understand how to prepare and install EV charging infrastructure in your building, including example motions and by-laws.

Find advice for renters

Alternative Technology Association - Renter's guides to sustainability (homes and apartments).

Find legal tips for strata sustainability projects

2021 NSW Strata Legislation amendment - making it easier for body corporates to approve sustainability infrastructure projects. Further details here.
See also electric vehicle charging section above that includes tips from NSW government.

Check this guide for going all electric

Guide to electrifying your apartment building or town house - This is an excellent overview of projects that can be undertaken. Note the information about incentives is only relevant to the state of Victoria. Check for incentives relevant to NSW here.

Apartment Energy Savings Program

Our free Apartment Sustainability and Energy Savings Program is currently assisting strata buildings to reduce energy use, water and waste resulting in potentially thousands of dollars savings per year. Applications for our March 2025 round are now closed.

This information will be updated when our program is available again. You can register your interest in future rounds of the program by completing this form.

Why get involved?

Buildings selected to be part of the program will receive a free sustainability assessment performed by an industry specialist. The assessment may include the following areas:

Energy
Water
Solar
EV Charging
Electrification (getting of gas)

We'll then provide detailed reports clearly showing the financial case for upgrades and implementation support.

Project goals

This program aims to reduce common area energy use in all participating buildings by 20% and showcase sustainability projects being implemented locally.

What’s involved?

Interested residents submit an expression of interest application.
Council assesses expressions of interest and determines successful applicants.
Strata committee approves sustainability assessment and shares relevant utility bill data with assessor.
Council organises and funds the energy assessments and reports.
Body corporate reviews energy saving options and determines implementation.
Council requests feedback from participants to create case studies to support other buildings interested in energy efficiency upgrades.

Who should apply?

We are looking for strata buildings committed to reducing energy use and saving on strata fees. We especially encourage applications from buildings with high energy bills and large communal facilities such as pools, gyms and underground car parks.

Selection criteria: successful applications will be those whose applications demonstrate high likelihood of implementing energy savings measures, opportunities for emissions reductions and the prospect of providing case studies for buildings with similar facilities.