Highgate at 127–153 Kent Street in Millers Point, was converted from an office tower to luxury apartments in 1995. It hosts 204 apartments and 193 car parking spaces, a swimming pool, spa, sauna, gym and library.
From 2018 to 2020 we awarded Highgate 2 green building grants to help it get water and energy assessments and NABERS energy and water ratings. It’s now saving more than $50,000 a year.
What they did
- Upgraded air conditioner condenser water loop
- Installed variable speed drives on exhaust fans
Results
- 21% annual energy savings
- $56,359 annual cost savings
- Uplift of 1.5 stars in NABERS energy rating
Taking things further
The strata committee and building manager took great initiative to improve sustainability performance in all areas of the building. They:
- installed 12 electric vehicle (EV) chargers in private car parking spaces
- upgraded common area lights to LED
- created a recycling station for food scraps and hard to recycle household items, such as electronics, clothes and polystyrene
- introduced rainwater harvesting tanks for the car wash bay and car park cleaning
- introduced a community garden to grow herbs and produce.
“Through the support of the strata committee, owners and residents, Highgate has been able to overcome the many challenges in becoming a green apartment building. It is not just about saving money and greening the planet but creating a more desirable living space for all residents, who can feel good about their homes.
The ongoing support from City of Sydney with initiatives like its smart green apartments program has been both educational and practical to implement.”
– Paul Upham, building manager