UDIA WA: New apartment development set to revolutionise sustainable apartment design
- Source Urban Development Institute of Australia Western Australia
- Date 17 September 2020
A new development in Fremantle designed by Hillam Architects has been setting new standards in sustainability, using One Planet Living guidelines to provide environmental, social and economic benefits to residents and the broader community.
“A new apartment complex in Fremantle is set to save residents 50% on their annual strata levies thanks to a landmark renewable energy partnership between Power Ledger and OP Properties.
“Montreal Commons, a new five-storey development by OP Properties will be one of the first carbon neutral apartment buildings in Australia and is expected to set a global benchmark for how sustainable apartment design is leveraged to generate a financial incentive. It will use developer-funded 75 kW solar rooftop PVs and local battery storage, topped up with 100% green energy from the grid through local electricity retailer Change Energy. The estimated carbon reduction from the project is about 240 tonnes of carbon per year, or 6 tonnes per apartment.
“During the day power produced will be unsold to residents at the normal grid price but at a margin that produced a small income stream for the strata company. During times of peak demand the strata company will then buy back from the local battery storage via local energy supplier Change Energy and on sell to residents at normal grid price. Power Ledger will use blockchain technology to ensure that every energy transaction is accurately tracked, verified as renewable, and transparent.”
