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Building Futures

Registrations are now open for Building Futures Round 4 - Strata Program

Building Futures is a free Council program aimed to help larger strata buildings (35+ units) save money on their energy and water bills and to improve environmental performance. All participating buildings will work towards a shared energy goal – to reduce common property energy use by 15%.

We work hand-in-hand with participating buildings to:

• Reduce operating costs
• Reduce common area energy use
• Reduce greenhouse gas emissions
• Reduce water use
• Improve waste management

Participating buildings receive for FREE:

• Energy assessments of common areas
• Costed upgrade recommendations
• Solar power screening to identify buildings with good potential for solar PV
• Project management and implementation support
• Up to $1,000 matched funding towards one or more recommended efficiency upgrades
• Access to Sydney Water’s WaterFIX program for high-water users
• Access to Waverley Council’s Apartment Recycling Improvement Program
• Recognition and promotion of participation in the program

Who can apply?

Buildings that are:

• Strata titled (residential and non-residential)
• Located in the Waverley LGA
• Have more than 35 units (residential strata only)

What's involved?

We will need from you:

• Approval to participate
• Approval to access your electricity interval data and water data
• A key contact person to liaise with the energy auditor over site access, building questions and implementation solutions
• Online meeting with the Strata Committee to present the energy audit recommendations
• Your commitment to contribute a minimum of $1000 towards an energy saving measure
• Your openness to participate in a case study.

How are we managing COVID?

All works will be carried out in adherence to NSW Public Health Orders.

Our energy consultant can:

• Conduct some elements of the work remotely (e.g. reviewing energy data and tariffs)
• Work with you to organise contactless site visits to conduct the energy audit with the required PPE
• Present the results from your energy report to your Executive Committee online

Provide implementation support over the phone/email. Any resulting quotes and implementation of energy saving actions will be managed in a COVID-safe manner, in accordance with all applicable Public Health Orders.

Apply now!

Complete our online application form Before you start: You will be asked to enter a recent building's common area electricity bill and SP number, so it can be useful to get these before completing the form.

Download a PDF version if you'd like to preview the questions before completing online.

Applications close Friday 24 September at 5pm.

For more information

For more information or to ask a question, contact Rachel O’Leary, Program Coordinator on 02 9083 8150 or rachel.oleary@waverley.nsw.gov.au

Further resources

A total of 30 apartment buildings have already participated in previous rounds of Building Futures. Collectively these buildings have achieved an average energy saving of 23%, saved thousands of dollars per year on their energy and water bills and reduced their climate impact.

Check out the below case studies from successful buildings:

• Hollywood Avenue, Bondi Junction
• Oxford Street, Bondi Junction
• Penkivil Gardens, Bondi goes solar

For more information on strata living:

• Strata living Guide (NSW Office of Fair Trading)
• Who’s Responsible Guide (Strata Community Australia NSW)
• Living in a Community Scheme (NSW Office of Fair Trading)
• City Futures (UNSW) - How to implement sustainable retrofits in your strata scheme

Water savings in apartment buildings:

• Register for a free water efficiency assessment and access services to make water and financial savings in your apartment building, via a collaboration between Sydney Water, Waverley, Woollahra and Randwick Councils.
• Watch the October 2020 webinar: Water Saving in Apartments - Presented by Sydney Water & Green Strata

On Solar Power for Apartment Buildings (June 2020 webinar) visit:

• Overview of opportunities, barriers and models for different buildings - Mike Roberts (UNSW)
• What you need to consider - Gareth Huxham (Energy Smart Strata)
• Getting approvals from OC - Green Strata
• The Allume SolShare Technology - Alex Marks (Allume)
• Webinar about electric vehicle charging in apartments