Greening Strata

Many people would like to claim the green high ground in strata but they can’t.

You see ... strata buildings are not very friendly to the environment (and neither are their owners or managers).  And that’s out of step with the rest of the world of building owners and managers – so it’s time we started doing something about it.

• Unfortunately, strata buildings have the following environmental problems -
• Strata buildings use more electricity than the same number of single residential dwellings per occupant and the same floor space commercial buildings
• Strata building residents use more water than non strata people
• Recycling in strata buildings is about one quarter the level of normal homes and commercial premises
• The use of solar, thermal and other centralized heating and cooling systems is lower
• Waste production is higher than the same number of single residential dwellings

Here’s a recent article about the problem called Strata is popular but neglected in green initiatives from the Fifth Estate.

There are many reasons for the poor performance of strata buildings (which are beyond the scope of the blog post) but regardless of why it occurs what can be done and how do you do it ?

Up until now it has been hard to do anything and only a few well intentioned and committed buildings, executives and managers have made improvements.

But a few smart and committed people are changing that to empower strata buildings to go green.

Christine Byrne and the Green Strata Network has launched a website called greenstrata.com.au and it describes itself as a site is for owners and their owners corporations to learn, find and share information about making our buildings more sustainable.  And, it is – covering the following areas (and much more)

• Community – what your owners corporation can do to help your residents live more sustainable lives and how to strengthen the community in your building to work towards greater sustainability
• Energy – what your owners corporation can do to reduce energy consumption and what options you have for producing energy from renewable sources
• Gardens & Grounds – sustainable uses for your gardens and grounds
• Materials – how you can use more sustainable products and building materials on your common property
• Rebates & Incentives – what rebates and incentives are on offer from governments and other agencies
• Transport Support – how your owners corporation can support your residents in choosing and using sustainable transport options
• Waste – how your owners corporation can help residents reduce the amount of waste ending up in landfill
• Water – what your owners corporation can do to reduce water consumption and what options you have for water capture and reuse

So check it out now and take some green initiatives into your strata building tomorrow.

Now, give me back my hemp bag as I need to buy some organic vegetables and I can’t carry them all on my pushbike without it.

Francesco …