City of Sydney Zero Emissions by 2050

Many strata managers don't realise that their customers are eligible for grants from both local and state governments for energy efficiency, water efficiency and community solar.

Lord Mayor Clover Moore (pictured with sustainability director Chris Derksema) has stated the importance of the action plan in addressing climate change mitigation: "the City of Sydney is getting on with the job of slowing this dangerous warming while setting bold new targets for the future". Already emissions are down 19% on 2006 levels.

Currently, the City of Sydney are offering strata buildings:

• Up to $10,000 funding for energy assessments under ratings and assessment grants
• Up to $80,000 in co-funding for sustainability projects under innovation grants

​The City of Sydney released a draft of their ambitious Environmental Action 2016-2021 Strategy and Action Plan. This commits the City of Sydney LGA to: 

•  50% of the council’s electricity from renewables by 2021
•  50% of the LGA’s electricity from renewables by 2030
•  Net zero emissions by 2050

A big part of this plan includes developing an energy retrofit program for residential strata buildings to improve energy efficiency. Previously, the C40 Cities Climate Leadership Group identified that residential properties in cities account for "20-25% of global Greenhouse Gas emissions". This represents a huge opportunity for the strata sector to reduce energy consumption and electricity bills at the same time.

The action plan also provides for a $10 million to boost to local renewable energy development. Bloomberg New Energy Finance predicts that by 2040, 59% of Australia’s power generation will come from solar and wind. Behind-the-meter generation from rooftop solar and battery storage will account for one third of all capacity. In other words, apartment buildings will increasingly use solar power directly off their roofs.

The important role that the strata industry has to play is being recognised by investment from governments into funded innovation programs. Apart from local councils such as the City of Sydney, government programs such as Innovate NSW and Advance Queensland are also supporting innovation in energy efficiency in the strata sector.  

​Read more from City of Sydney here, or download the draft Environmental Action 2016-2021 Strategy and Action Plan.

Further information about available grants and funding here. 

Morgan Warnock
Contributor, Strata Energy News