PICA Group has announced a new green solar energy deal, which will see 64 of its strata buildings save an estimated $681,000 annually, while significantly reducing carbon emissions.
PICA has more than 200,000 lots under management in NSW, Victoria and Queensland across nine strata management businesses, including Dynamic Property Services – whose buildings will partake in this initial deal.
PICA Group will next look to extend the green solar energy deal to hundreds of its additional properties across NSW and Victoria.
The timing is perfect.
A bill introduced in Australian Parliament last week aims to reduce emissions to net zero by 2050, a proposal welcomed by the Property Council and the Green Building Council of Australia (GBCA).
The GBCA also recently completely overhauled its Green Star rating system in a push to eliminate natural gas in buildings.
Buildings must now be net-zero, with fully electric, fossil fuel free and 100 per cent powered by renewables, in order to score the highest possible 6 Star rating. This marks the biggest change in the Green Star rating system in 18 years.
“Owners corporations are becoming increasingly aware of carbon emissions and are motivated to reduce the footprint of their buildings,” explains PICA Group CEO Wayne Walker.
“This has certainly been the case among PICA Group customers, whose strata committees we have been working with to reduce costs in key areas such as energy, HVAC and water.
“The complexity of retail energy deals present challenges for individual strata schemes to obtain competitive offers.
“With more than 100,000 lots under management in NSW, PICA Group was able to use its size and presence to negotiate the lowest energy rates in the industry.
“It is the first time a collective of strata buildings has signed up to a 100 per cent green solar electricity agreement with lower rates than any coal-based offer.”
