Twenty years ago, having reliable internet in your home felt like a bonus. If the connection dropped out or a page wouldn’t load, you adjusted. Today, it’s something many people expect as part of modern living.
Sustainability is starting to follow a similar path.
For a long time, sustainability was often viewed as a nice extra. Buildings were repaired, budgets were set, and upgrades were carried out with little consideration of energy use, efficiency, or long-term environmental impact.
Today, the conversation is changing.
For many owners and committees, sustainability is no longer just about reducing environmental impact. It’s also about managing rising energy costs, making homes more comfortable, planning for emerging technologies, and preparing buildings for future expectations.
Buyers and residents are paying closer attention to how homes perform. Energy-efficient features, solar power, electric vehicle charging, battery storage and all-electric infrastructure are becoming more common considerations when choosing where to live.
At the same time, governments, councils and industry bodies are introducing more programs, funding opportunities and initiatives to support energy efficiency and sustainability improvements.
For owners and committees, this shift is changing how decisions are made, with a greater emphasis on solutions that deliver value not only today but also well into the future.
Throughout this article, we use the term strata building as a general way to describe apartment and community living properties.
Across Australia, the terminology differs between states and territories. Depending on where you live, your community may be governed by an owners corporation, body corporate, strata scheme or another form of community title.
While the language varies, many of the sustainability considerations discussed in this article can apply across all types of shared residential communities.
Energy costs have made many households more aware of how much power their homes and common property use. In strata buildings, this can include lighting, lifts, ventilation systems, pumps, pools, hot-water systems, and other shared infrastructure.
People are also becoming more conscious of how homes perform day to day. Comfort during summer and winter, energy bills, access to natural light, ventilation, and future-ready features are increasingly influencing purchasing decisions. Research from Domain’s Sustainability in Property 2025 report suggests energy-efficient homes are attracting greater buyer interest, with features such as solar panels and efficient design becoming increasingly important considerations for many purchasers.
There’s also a growing focus on resilience. As technology evolves and buildings age, owners and committees are seeking ways to reduce long-term costs while preparing for future requirements.
Sustainability is often part of that conversation.
For some buildings, it may mean installing solar panels. For others, it might involve upgrading lighting, improving ventilation, planning for EV charging, or reviewing energy use across the common property.
Rather than being a separate initiative, sustainability is increasingly integrated into how buildings are maintained, upgraded, and managed over time.
In practice, it often comes down to practical decisions that help reduce waste, improve efficiency, and support the property’s long-term operation.
Solar isn’t just an environmental initiative. It’s also a way for buildings to potentially reduce common property energy costs and become less reliant on rising electricity prices.
Whether through rooftop solar, shared energy systems or solar arrangements that benefit multiple residents, more buildings are exploring how renewable energy can support their long-term planning.
Battery systems help buildings get more value from the energy they generate.
Instead of sending unused solar energy back to the grid, batteries can store it for later use, improving efficiency and potentially reducing electricity costs.
As more Australians consider electric vehicles, some buildings are starting to think about how their car parks and electrical systems may need to support charging in the years ahead.
For committees, this isn’t just about installing chargers. It can involve understanding electrical capacity, planning for future demand, and considering how charging infrastructure may be managed fairly across residents.
One of the simplest upgrades available to many buildings is improving the efficiency of existing systems.
LED lighting, motion sensors, efficient pumps, and ventilation systems can help reduce energy use while improving reliability and reducing maintenance requirements.
Small improvements can add up over time.
Sustainability doesn’t have to begin with major upgrades.
Simple changes, such as switching common areas to LED lighting or adding motion sensors in hallways and car parks, can make a noticeable difference. These smaller improvements can help reduce energy use and running costs, while making it easier to plan for larger upgrades over time.
That doesn’t mean every building needs the same upgrades. A high-rise apartment building may have very different needs from a townhouse community or a smaller scheme.
What matters is understanding how your building operates today and considering what may need to change over time.
In New South Wales, strata reforms include measures that support sustainability planning through capital works and building management processes. These reforms encourage greater consideration of energy use, water consumption, and sustainability infrastructure as part of long-term planning.
Other states or territories are also supporting sustainability through grants, rebates, and targeted programs. Examples include apartment solar rebates in Victoria, shared solar funding in the Northern Territory, and resilience programs for eligible communities in parts of Queensland.
For many schemes, it’s not about being the most environmentally advanced building. It’s about making practical decisions that improve liveability, reduce unnecessary costs, and support long-term planning.
Potential benefits can include:
Energy-efficient systems may help reduce common property energy use over time.
Improvements can be staged and budgeted for, rather than introduced reactively.
Efficient lighting, ventilation, and building systems can improve everyday living.
Buildings may be better prepared to support changing technology and resident expectations.
Sustainability features are increasingly a factor for many buyers when comparing properties.
Sustainability looks different in every community.
What makes sense for one building may not be practical for another. Understanding your building’s needs, budget, and infrastructure can help identify realistic, worthwhile improvements.
Depending on the building, improvements such as solar, efficient lighting, upgraded pumps, ventilation systems, battery storage, and energy monitoring may help reduce energy use and improve operational efficiency over time.
While some projects require upfront investment, there are also a growing number of programs designed to support energy upgrades.
The Australian Government is helping make energy‑efficient upgrades more affordable through the $1 billion Household Energy Upgrades Fund. Delivered by the Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC), it supports over 110,000 households, especially older homes, in lowering energy bills and improving energy efficiency.
A NABERS rating provides insight into how energy and water are being used within a building.
Understanding where resources are being consumed can help committees identify practical opportunities to improve efficiency and reduce unnecessary costs.
From reducing common property energy costs to identifying practical efficiency improvements, there are a range of ways buildings can take steps towards a more sustainable future.
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Sustainability isn’t about doing everything at once. It’s about making practical decisions that help buildings operate more efficiently, remain comfortable for residents, and adapt to changing expectations over time.
Across Australia, that shift is already underway. What once felt optional is increasingly becoming part of everyday planning and decision-making.
For owners and committees, the opportunity isn’t necessarily to make sweeping changes overnight. It’s understanding what makes sense for their building, planning ahead, and taking manageable steps over time.
Much as reliable internet has evolved from a bonus feature to an expected part of modern living, sustainability is becoming an increasingly important factor for owners, residents, and buyers when choosing a well-managed community.
Buildings that start planning for the future today may be better positioned to navigate the changes ahead.
This article is edited by Lauren Shaw Regional General Manager and Licensee-in-Charge on July 2026.
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