As residents and government get aboard the electrification train, there are more and more Australians who don’t live in stand-alone owner-occupier housing who are interested in finding out how they too can make the switch to all-electric living.

According to Alex Zeller, the Assistant Director, Australian Energy Regulator “Compared to free standing houses, apartments stay warmer in winter by huddling together like penguins. For a number of reasons, this huddling can risk making apartments airless and damp. Due to regulatory quirks, it also means that Australian apartments have lower thermal performance than comparable international counterparts.”

In this video you’ll hear from Norman Koslowski, a principal consultant at Sky High Energy Control, an independent sustainable energy consultancy for Sydney apartments and houses. He is an expert on specifying the best mix of solar and energy saving technology to reduce the cost of strata living, plus make apartments resilient to extreme climate conditions.

Whether you’re a renter or have budget limitations, you still deserve an efficient, comfortable home.

These detailed slides share expert advice about making your apartment more thermally comfortable, efficient, and electric within the bounds of your rental agreement or available budget.

NABERS ratings for apartment buildings quantify your building’s energy and water performance.

NABERS gives your building a rating from one to six stars, based on the energy use of shared services such as car parks, lobbies and gyms.

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 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.

Developed in 2022, this Guide aimed to kick-start the conversation about about electrification in apartment buildings. It provides high-level guidance to help transition to all-electric for both common areas and your home, be it an apartment or townhouse.

Learn from pioneering apartment buildings already embracing electrification. Understand more about all-electric technology options and what you need to consider as you make the switch – induction cook tops, hot water heat pumps, heating and cooling options, electricity load considerations, and more.

NABERS ratings for apartment buildings quantify your building’s energy and water performance. NABERS gives your building a rating from one to six stars, based on the energy use of shared services such as car parks, lobbies and gyms.

The Energy Guide was developed by City of Sydney. Follow the steps in this guide to manage your building’s energy use and save money along the way.