Most conversations about electrifying apartment buildings start with technology. And more often than not, they start with Allume SolShare — an innovative product that enables solar sharing behind the meter for strata communities.
But that’s not this story.
At 76 Edward Street in Brunswick, a small apartment block of 18 units recently made the change to all-electric living. Not by installing cutting-edge solar sharing infrastructure or undertaking complex renovations, but by taking a holistic view of their energy consumption and focusing their efforts where they would have the greatest impact.
The result was a communal hot water upgrade that cut bills by over $17,000 a year, slashed emissions by 86%, and is on-track to deliver a complete return on investment in under two years.
This case study shows the power of whole-of-system thinking – proving that designing interconnected systems may lead to the most efficient outcome.
Understanding the challenge: cost, carbon, complexity
Like many older apartment buildings built in the 1970’s, 80’s or 90’s, 76 Edward Street was running on an aging shared gas hot water system — an expensive and emissions-intensive setup. Annual energy costs were close to $19,300, with more than 30 tonnes of CO₂ emitted each year.
The Owners Corporation wanted a change. But they also wanted something manageable: a solution that didn’t rely on complex metering systems and wouldn’t break the bank.
Their goals were simple:
– Eliminate gas use;
– Reduce bills;
– Future-proof the building;
– Lower the building’s environmental footprint.
So, they took a step back – and started looking at the system as a whole, considering the buildings energy profile.
The solution: Go where the energy is
The supplier All Electric Homes worked with the Owners Corporation to identify the biggest single energy use on site: hot water.
Instead of trying to install individually metered solar or electrify every element of the building at once, they focused on one communal service and designed a targeted system around it. The approach was low-fuss and high-impact:
· 11.88kW solar system (25 × 475W Jinko panels and a 10kW GoodWe inverter)
· 2 × 400L Reclaim Energy CO₂ heat pumps, supported by a 50L finishing tank
· Full electrical, plumbing, and metering works
Image supplied
The heat pumps draw power primarily from the solar PV during daylight hours, storing hot water for use when residents need it. By optimising for solar availability and aligning system sizing with actual hot water demand, the solution delivered strong technical and economic outcomes — without over-engineering.
The results: Simplicity pays
The numbers speak for themselves.
Bills and emissions were cut by ~86% as the residents no longer rely on fossil gas for hot water. And critically, the system was affordable given the rapid return on investment.
“We’re now running the hot water system on solar — saving thousands a year while slashing our carbon footprint. The upgrade pays for itself in under 2 years.” – Apartment resident
The ‘Projected’ figures shown above are based on the original SpendWatt proposal, which used historical billing data from the apartment block. The ‘Actual’ figures reflect four months of billing data collected after installation. It’s important to note that this period covers the summer months where solar production was highest, which explains the improved figures compared to projections. These figures are expected to stabilise over a full 12-month period.
So, what’s the broader lesson here?
Not every apartment building needs individually metered or shared solar systems.
That’s not to knock this solution – it’s a fantastic option, particularly in situations where solar access needs to be fairly and transparently distributed across multiple dwellings. But as this project shows, it’s not the only way forward.
There are often opportunities for apartments to start their electrification journey with shared services, especially when those services are:
· high energy users (e.g., hot water, HVAC)
· centrally managed (e.g., body corporate-controlled)
· easily solar-powered or time-shifted to match generation
A whole-of-system approach means looking beyond just who owns what and instead asking: What is our energy profile as a whole? Where are the biggest wins?
Why this matters now
Apartment buildings are often seen as too hard. Too many variables. Too many stakeholders. Too hard to coordinate.
But projects like this one suggest a different perspective: that the best way to get started is simply to focus on the most impactful, manageable opportunity.
It’s a perspective that aligns with the precinct-scale thinking [LH1] [TS2] we support at Yarra Energy Foundation. That by zooming out from individual appliances or units and considering the full system we can unlock faster, more equitable progress toward a clean energy future.
A brief piece of advocacy
Interestingly, since this installation has taken place, a unit in the complex was listed and sold without a single mention of the improved efficiency – and drastically lower bills – associated with the building.
Surely this is a huge selling point… This raises the wider concern of the drastic need for mandatory disclosure of a property’s efficiency and expected bill expenditure at the point of sale or rental.
Curious about what’s possible in your building?
This project wasn’t an exception – it’s one example among many. If you’re managing or living in a strata building spending too much on energy and concerned about carbon emissions, it might be time to ask:
· Where does our building use the most energy?
· What’s the current role of gas?
· What could we replace now, with solar and storage?
· Who do we need to get started?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer – but there are pathways forward for almost every site.
We highly recommend reaching out to All Electric Homes to explore similar options in your strata complex.
This article was originally published by Yarra Energy Foundation. Republished here with permission. Read the original version here.
