Energy Consumers Australia funds apartment action research

This is a real photo taken in Brunswick Victoria. It illustrates the challenge facing apartment dwellers wanting to be part of the energy transition. Apartment owners, renters and owners corporations need supportive policy and programs so they can participate in the energy transition.

Energy Consumers Australia (ECA) has funded the Unlocking Electrification Upgrades in Apartment Buildings action research project.

Apartment residents are being left behind in the energy transition due to the complexities of electrifying shared buildings. Some of the challenges include navigating Strata, limited tailored support, and gaps in policy and financing. This disproportionately affects renters and lower-income households, making it a critical equity and justice issue. 

Owners Corporation Network, Let Me Be Frank and High Life Living will work with three Victorian apartment communities over 18 months to test how electrification upgrades can happen in practice, then use those insights to create practical resources, supplier information and a community of practice. The project will also develop policy insights and recommendations, so apartment residents are better enabled to participate in the energy transition. 

By combining practical delivery with national knowledge-sharing, the project aims to enable and help scale electrification in apartment buildings across Australia.

The project will run for two years. All project updates, recommendations, insights, tools and templates will be published on the High Life LIving website.

Find out more about Energy Consumers Australia and the other projects they’ve generously funded on the ECA website.