Apartment Retrofits

Source: https://www.ceem.unsw.edu.au:443/our-research/apartment-retrofits Parent: https://www.ceem.unsw.edu.au:443/

Identifying, modelling and realising retrofit opportunities for apartment buildings

Overview:

In the move to Net Zero in Australia, apartments have been largely left behind. The unique difficulties of retrofitting apartments means that they have ended up in the ‘too hard’ basket when it comes to both policy and practice. This project brings together experts in apartment building governance with experts in renewable energy to provide resources to help property owners make a case for retrofits and evidence to support regulatory and behaviour change. 

This research will: 

• Assist property owners to make a case for retrofit by providing examples of successful retrofit projects and an indication of the likely costs and benefits. 

• Provide information and resources to support behaviour change (e.g. encourage residents to change their energy usage behaviour). 

• Help inform government decisions on programs, grants and incentives to encourage sustainable retrofits in apartment buildings. 

• Provide information to support regulatory reform (e.g. amendments to strata scheme management acts, support the case for mandatory disclosure of building performance).

This 3-year project comprises three work packages, CEEM researchers are leading WP2 and contributing to WP1 and WP3.:

WP1 Identifying retrofit opportunities & regulatory barriers:

• Create a typography of common Australian apartment buildings.

• Identify and cost feasible retrofit strategies, (including identifying specific implications for strata).

• Review of key regulation across selected states. 

WP2 Modelling retrofit opportunities

• Model of a range of retrofits across the building types identified in WP1.

• Estimate running costs, payback periods, impacts of building-wide energy use and peak and off-peak demand. 

WP3 Realising retrofit opportunities

• 3-4 case studies with buildings undertaking retrofit.

• monitor and analyse of thermal comfort and electricity usage.

• review of governance issues.

Funders:

RACE for 2030 CRC (project page)

Industry Partners:

• ACT Government
• NSW Government – DCCEEW
• Australian Government – DCCEEW
• City of Melbourne
• Randwick City Council
• Australian Glass & Window Association
• NABERS
• Owners Corporation Network

Researchers:

Hazel Easthope (project lead, City Futures Research Centre)

Edgar Liu (project manager, City Futures Research Centre)

Anna Bruce

Mike Roberts

Simon Heslop

Alistair Sproul

Research status