An Examination of Building Defects in Multi-owned Properties
Author or co-authors: Nicole Johnston, Sacha Reid
Funders: PICA Group
Keywords: Construction, Defects, Development, Dispute resolution / courts / tribunals, Law, Qualitative research/interviews,
Summary:
The research aims to identify the types of building defects impacting residential buildings, the effects that building defects have on buildings and residents, the impact of the regulatory environment and how defects are managed by the owners corporation. The study identified the prevalence of building defects based on construction systems. Defects were most prevalent in following systems (in order): building fabric and cladding, fire protection, roof and rainwater disposal, waterproofing and structural.Impact of shared battery energy storage systems on photovoltaic self-consumption and electricity bills in apartment buildings
Author or co-authors: Mike Roberts, Anna Bruce, Iain MacGill
Published: Applied Energy 245, 78-95, DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2019.04.001
Funders: Energy Consumers Australia, CRC for Low Carbon Living
Keywords: Building improvements, Environment, Sustainability, Utilities / networks,
Summary:
Apartment buildings offer an opportunity to apply central battery storage and shared solar generation to aggregated apartment and common loads through an embedded network or microgrid. We present a study of energy and financial flows in five Australian apartment buildings with photovoltaics and battery storage using real apartment interval-metered load profiles and simulated solar generation profiles, modelled using an open source tool developed for the purpose.Opportunities and barriers for photovoltaics on multi-unit residential buildings: reviewing the Australian experience
Author or co-authors: Mike Roberts, Anna Bruce, Iain MacGill
Published: Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Volume 104, 2019, Pages 95-110, doi: 10.1016/j.rser.2018.12.013
Funders: Energy Consumers Australia, CRC for Low Carbon Living
Keywords: Building improvements, Environment, Sustainability, Utilities / networks,
Summary:
This paper reviews opportunities for, and barriers to, increasing photovoltaic (PV) deployment on apartment buildings. We undertook a review of the academic literature and of specific Australian regulatory arrangements, as well as conducting interviews with relevant stakeholders. Barriers identified include the huge variety amongst apartment building stock, demographic factors and knowledge issues. However, the Australian regulatory context – including governance of apartment buildings, regulation of the energy market, and electricity tariff policies – also impacts on the options available.Photovoltaics on Apartment Buildings
Author or co-authors: Mike Roberts, Anna Bruce, Iain MacGill, Jessie Copper, Navid Haghdadi
Funders: Energy Consumers Australia
Keywords: Building improvements, Environment, Sustainability, Utilities / networks,
Summary:
Although Australia has over 2 million solar households, the 10% of Australians who live in apartments are still missing out on cheap, clean energy. This final report from CEEM's three-year research project includes an assessment of the scale and nature of the solar opportunity and analysis of the costs and benefits of different technical configurations and financial arrangements. It also identifies some of the challenges preventing apartment residents from installing solar PV and suggest some policy reforms that could help overcome the key regulatory barriers.Experiencing Density: The implications of strata titling for urban renewal in Australian cities
Author or co-authors: Hazel Easthope, Bill Randolph
Published: In K. Ruming (ed) Urban Regeneration and Australian Cities: Policies, processes and projects of contemporary change, London: Ashgate.
Keywords: Construction, Defects, Design, Development, Disputes/conflict, Governance, Law, Planning, Policy, Redevelopment / termination, Repairs and maintenance,
Summary:
In the 21st century Australian city, urban renewal has become synonymous with higher residential densities. This chapter discusses: the potential for conflict; problems of building design, build quality and defects and ongoing problems with major repairs and maintenance; strata ownership as a formidable barrier to further renewal in areas that otherwise would be prime sites for redevelopment. We draw on a series of interlinked and on-going research projects undertaken by the authors and colleagues over the last decade looking at aspects of the emerging strata title sector in Australia.