This year a parliamentary inquiry was set up to consider how people living in apartments and units could have better access to affordable renewable energy.

The inquiry has now released its report with 52 findings and 25 recommendations.  It found that Victorians have embraced renewable energy but:

many Victorians living in apartment buildings and other multi-unit dwellings continue to face significant barriers … Victoria is at an important crossroads

This is important, because more people are living in apartments and units. For example, almost half (46%) of the population of Merri-bek now lives in medium- or high-density housing.

Some key findings and recommendations of the inquiry are summarised below.

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If you are interested in this topic, you can find out more at our free forum on Affordable and Renewable Energy for All on Wednesday 26 August, 6.30-8pm at Coburg Library Meeting Room. All welcome. Register here. Download the flyer here.

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Apartment buildings are collectively managed through Owners Corporations (OCs) which include all owners of apartments. This can make it challenging to install rooftop solar or make other sustainability improvements as owners don’t always have relevant knowledge. It can also be possible for a small number of owners to block measures.

The inquiry recommends the appointment of a Strata Commissioner (as other states have already done) to oversee the sector. It also recommends free training and support for OC committees and changes to legislation to make it clearer what sustainability means, ensure OCs consider sustainability, and that a 50% vote (rather than the current 75%) is sufficient for such measures to be passed

The inquiry recognised that renters have limited control over the sustainability of their homes. It recommended a voluntary scheme for disclosing the energy efficiency of apartments and units, so renters have access to information and owners are motivated to improve their properties.

Apartments and units with embedded electrical networks or shared gas hot water systems face particular challenges. There is currently a review of embedded networks and the inquiry recommended the government monitor this to ensure residents in these situations do not miss out.

The inquiry also looked at social and public housing. While social housing providers try to provide good quality housing, a lack of capital may mean they have difficulty financing renewables and electrification. The inquiry recommended government provide specific assistance in this area.

Many older apartments have limited electrical capacity, which makes it difficult to electrify or benefit from renewables. The inquiry recommended that government provide tailored assistance, and that it require energy companies to provide necessary information for free (rather than trying to charge for it) and be proactive in supporting electrification and renewables.

The government’s ‘Solar for Apartments’ grant scheme is helping apartment blocks access renewables, but larger blocks (over 50 units or apartments), those with embedded networks, and older blocks with limited electrical capacity are excluded or cannot make use of the grants. The inquiry recommended the scheme be extended to include these blocks.

It also recommended that batteries be included in the Solar for Apartments scheme in future.

Finally, the inquiry noted advances available from new technologies, some of which are already available in other countries. For example, solar photovoltaics can be integrated into building materials, while ‘balcony’ and ‘plug-in’ solar and batteries are available in some countries but not yet here

The inquiry recommended Victoria develop the necessary legislation and regulation to enable these. They are particularly relevant for high rise buildings where there is limited roof space per apartment for solar panels but where there may be considerable sunshine during the day.

In conclusion, these words of the inquiry report are important:

Apartment communities are diverse, but many include households that are particularly vulnerable to energy hardship, including renters, people on low incomes, older Victorians and social housing tenants. Too often these households are excluded from the financial and environmental benefits that renewable energy technologies can deliver. If Victoria is to achieve its renewable energy and emissions reduction goals, apartment residents cannot be left behind.

It’s important to note that we have an election coming up soon in Victoria. Many inquiry recommendations seem sound and helpful for those of us who live in apartments and units, but they could all be lost if climate change deniers are elected.