High-rise apartment buildings in Sydney are being encouraged to reduce their energy consumption and emissions by joining a new program introduced by the City of Sydney. This follows a successful pilot of the Smart Green Apartments Program that produced average savings of $25,000 per year and cut carbon emissions by 3,000 tonnes.

The City of Sydney’s free green apartments program will provide tailored energy, water and waste assessments and access to an online system to monitor energy and water use in apartment buildings. Twenty high-rise apartment buildings in Sydney have been invited to join the program.

Bauhaus Apartments in Pyrmont was one of several buildings to participate in a trial program, described by the building’s Executive Committee Chair, Gordon Streight as invaluable. Apart from providing a huge amount of knowledge about the building and how their resources were being used, the program also offered them ongoing support and networking opportunities to help them learn how other buildings tackled similar issues.

He encourages other buildings to embrace the Smart Green Apartments Program and leverage the experience of others across the city.

Another apartment building, Aria Apartments in Waterloo also made significant cuts to energy bills and emissions by changing all lighting to LED, and introducing new recycling stations and an e-waste bin.

Apartment buildings from all suburbs throughout the City of Sydney local government area can apply to join the Smart Green Apartments Program.

Image: Aria Apartments in Waterloo also made significant cuts to energy bills and emissions by changing all lighting to LED, and introducing new recycling stations and an e-waste bin