Sustainable Apartments Program
A Government-funded initiative that provides tailored advice and planning support to help apartment buildings in Canberra begin their electrification journey.
About the program
The Sustainable Apartments Program (the Program) builds on the success of the Sustainable Apartments Pilot (the Pilot) and supports apartment buildings to plan and progress their transition to electrification.
The Program provides tailored, building‑specific advice to help owners corporations understand electrification options for their building. This includes guidance on technical feasibility, renewable energy generation, electric vehicle charging, replacing gas systems with efficient electric alternatives, and indicative costs.
Support is flexible and tailored to each building’s needs. It could include:
- general advice and indicative costings informed by demonstration projects
- a comprehensive service at no cost, including a site assessment, tailored electrification pathway and recommendation report
- ongoing guidance on equipment options and costings or external reports to help ensure best‑practice electrification outcomes.
The Program works closely with the Solar for Apartments Program and the Electric Vehicles team to provide coordinated, holistic support.
By registering, owners corporations can choose the level of support that best meets their needs.
Why it’s important
The ACT is working to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to address climate change. Our goal is to achieve net zero emissions by 2045. To achieve this, we are preparing to electrify our city and transition away from the use of fossil fuel gas. The electrification of apartment buildings is a key step toward reducing Canberra’s carbon emissions and achieving a more sustainable future.
The electrification of multi-storey buildings is a complex challenge. The Sustainable Apartments Program will help owners corporations understand what is involved in the electrification of their building, to provide clear, practical guidance that enables informed decisions and effective planning for electrification.
Eligibility
Owners corporations, also known as body corporates, that manage an eligible apartment building within the ACT, can apply for the Program.
To be eligible, the premises must:
- be an apartment building style structure with a Class A unit plan as defined in the Unit Titles Act 2001 (See the FAQs)
- be a completed development at the time of application
- include existing gas infrastructure and appliances.
How to register
To apply for the Program, complete the registration form for the Sustainable Apartments Program.
To complete the registration, you’ll need to:
- provide details about your apartment building and nominate a contact
- provide required documentation and drawings for your apartment building (listed in the registration form)
- read and understand the Sustainable Apartments Program Terms and Conditions.
After you register
We’ll assess your submission and your building’s infrastructure, confirm eligibility and be in touch with next steps.
What’s next for apartments
Findings and insights from the Program will contribute to the development of future policies and programs.
To keep informed about support available for this sector, please get in touch via email: sustainablebusiness@act.gov.au.
Owners Corporations can currently access the following ACT Government initiatives:
- The Sustainable Business Program which provides buildings with free energy assessments and rebates for upgrades to common property.
Read more about the Sustainable Business Program.
Contact the team: sustainablebusiness@act.gov.au
- The Solar for Apartments Program which provides access to funding to support a solar installation that benefits all residents.
Read more about the Solar for Apartments Program.
Contact the team: sustainablebusiness@act.gov.au
- The Sustainable Household Scheme where apartment owners can access a low-interest loan to help with the costs of energy-efficient upgrades for individual residents, eg. cook top replacements.
Read more about the Sustainable Household Scheme.
Contact the team: shs@act.gov.au
Read more
For more information on apartment building upgrades and what we have learned so far, read the case studies developed through the Sustainable Apartments Pilot.
Contact us
sustainablebusiness@act.gov.au
Phone: 13 22 81
Acknowledgement of Country
We acknowledge the Ngunnawal people as traditional custodians of the ACT and recognise any other people or families with connection to the lands of the ACT and region. We acknowledge and respect their continuing culture and the contribution they make to the life of this city and this region.