We need your help.
In NSW, 15% of our state’s population lives in an apartment. That’s well over 1.1 million people yet apartment residents are the ones that face challenges in retrofitting their buildings with sustainability infrastructure.
People living in houses don’t face the same issues we do. In NSW 18% of houses have a solar PV (photovoltaic) connection installed on their rooftops, while only 0.5% of strata schemes have connected solar PV systems.
To date, most NSW government residential sustainability programs and resources have focused on addressing sustainability barriers for houses, but not apartment buildings.
In March 2019, the NSW Government announced a series of initiatives to boost renewable energy and reduce power bills in apartments, including to:
- Cut red tape for strata residents looking to install solar panels, batteries and electric vehicle charging stations to ensure tenants and owner occupiers in apartments can also benefit from clean energy,
- Review any regulatory barriers to apartments becoming more sustainable, and
- Make it easier for people in apartments to install solar panels, batteries, and other sustainability infrastructure through regulatory change.
By ‘sustainability infrastructure’ they are referring to solar panels, batteries, smart meters, efficient hot water systems, electric vehicle charging stations and other emerging energy innovations (such as energy management services).
Have your say
To better understand the barriers faced by owners, tenants and owners corporations in existing apartment buildings, the Department of Planning, Industry and Environment is seeking your views and experiences about installing sustainability infrastructure in your building.
The survey takes 10-15 minutes and your responses will greatly assist the NSW Government. You have until midnight Sunday 9 August to complete the survey.
As a thank you, upon completing the survey you will be entered into a prize draw for an iPad Air 64GB valued at $779, to be drawn on 17 August 2020.
Thank you for taking the time to complete the survey, the Department will greatly value your participation and insights.
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