Rowan was initially told he couldn’t install a hot water heat pump in his 1980s Canberra apartment.

Instead of accepting “no,” he worked with installers, engineers and his strata manager to find practical solutions that allowed him to replace gas hot water with a heat pump, improve insulation and install efficient heating and cooling.

Learn how a Chatswood apartment building installed affordable EV charging and achieved a 5-star energy rating. A video by Willoughby City Council, NSW.

This 50 year old apartment building needed a window upgrade for all 66 apartments.

The ambitious retrofit was initiated by the owners corporation. Thanks to the window installer exceeding expectations and going above and beyond during the process the community are now enjoying increased comfort and liveability.

An owners corporation in Clifton Hill has developed a savvy funding model that unlocks the capacity of owners to install double glazing whenever time and budgets allow.

At the 2024 High Life Expo, an apartment owner at 76 Edward St, Brunswick met Trent Jones, Director of All Electric Homes. Working with the owners corporation, they delivered an impressive electrification transformation that considered the whole building as a system.

Never Too Small - a media company dedicated to small footprint design and living - has made some brilliant short films about Shaun’s renovation. Shaun’s $20,000 complete renovation is inspiring and includes lots of clever tips about how you can save your hard earned cash, use more sustainable materials, and improve the thermal comfort of your apartment.

The dedicated owners corporation committee in this apartment complex do more than just maintain their building, they actively enhance it and connect their community. After a hugely successful landscaping project, they started investigating opportunities to electrify, but ran into a series of major barriers.

When Shaun bought the top floor apartment of a 1980s low-rise block in 2022, it was dated, and unbearably hot on summer days. Shaun put his DIY skills and sustainability expertise to work renovating and retrofitting what is now a beautiful, comfortable, and sustainable home.

Located in the former Red Tulip building, this one-bedroom apartment was thoughtfully renovated to become an all-electric, small footprint, adaptable, and much-loved home to Natalie, Tim and their adorable dog, Bella.

Over two years ago the McKean St owners corporation began investigating the best model to install Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers in an affordable and equitable way. They came up with a neat and automated solution where the EV drivers are billed, without impacting residents who don’t use the EV charging.

This contemporary 12-unit apartment building in Melbourne’s southeast, has a single owner who installed a SolShare solar system. Now every tenant has access to on-site renewable energy. It’s a renters dream!

When sisters Emma and Victoria invested in a South Yarra apartment building, the opportunities for improvement were obvious. When they discovered the switch to all modern, all-electric appliances wasn’t easily available to them, they found other ways to improve their home.

This mid rise apartment building in Brunswick East was able to get in tip top shape to be future ready.

Adding to existing sustainability measures, including rainwater tanks, solar hot water, solar power, a grey water pump, and double glazing, the Owners Corporation undertook further measures to ensure The Tip Top building was comfortable, cost effective and resilient.

The Victoria Point Podium Greening project received a $500,000 matched-funding grant from the City of Melbourne’s Urban Forest Fund and $350,000 from Development Victoria, to transform their section of the Docklands Stadium concourse from grey to green. The project was completed in July 2023.

Once a 1970s motel, Park Street is now 17 apartments being leased in Brunswick. While this complex is owned by a single entity, not an owners corporation, there’s a lot to be learned from their approach.

Residents of Erko apartments were experiencing fierce heat intruding into their homes. Those with west facing balconies were particularly exposed to hot afternoon sun, and were left sweltering.

Well designed, high tech awnings have brought relief from the heat.

Christie Walk, located in the south of Adelaide’s CBD is an eco-community of 27 households, catering for up to 45 people on 2000sq metres around 30% of which is green space. Homes are a combination of apartments and townhouses.

Longterm resident of Christie Walk, Sue Gilbey, shares her inspiring story.

The Antias building, with 43 apartments and part of the Jackson’s Landing precinct in Pyrmont, has undertaken significant efforts to enhance its environmental sustainability since its completion in June 2012.

Arkadia Apartments consists of 152 apartments, built on a historical brickworks site in Alexandria. Arkadia’s building manager has been driving recycling projects to promote sustainability in the building. One of their key initiatives is rethinking food scraps recycling, to reduce waste and promote sustainable living.

Managing waste and recycling in apartment building can be a big challenge but you’re not alone in trying to tackle it. Read these five case studies to see how other buildings are tackling better waste and recycling systems and engagement.