Supporting retrofit projects in apartment buildings
How do you encourage a conversation about retrofitting in an apartment building where property ownership is fragmented among hundreds of disparate owners?
The challenge around retrofitting an apartment building
How do you encourage a conversation about retrofitting in an apartment building where property ownership is fragmented among hundreds of disparate owners? Energy price movements, recently manifesting as shocks, as well as regulatory change, are helping people to focus on their energy use.
To address this challenge for apartment owners and Owners’ Management Companies (OMCs), new, practical training resources have been developed, with the support of the European Commission, on how to start a retrofit or energy saving project for an apartment building.
Apartment buildings are large, complicated, and valuable properties. OMCs are the bodies that own and control the buildings on behalf of all the owners. Many OMCs are responsible for ageing, energy-inefficient buildings.
For the most part, directors of OMCs are volunteers. They are busy in their day jobs. As OMC directors, they are focussed on the day-to-day: building maintenance, insurance costs, company law compliance, and sometimes construction defects. Their ability and capacity to take on major projects such as retrofitting can be limited.
Free online training resources on how to start a retrofit project in a multi-unit development
The new online training resources are available for free, through the Housing Agency, and with the support of the SEAI. They aim to demystify retrofitting and energy efficiency upgrades in apartment buildings. Resources include workshop video recordings and presentations.
Primarily targeted at OMC directors, the training focuses on overcoming barriers to engagement with apartment owners. It provides real-life examples and guidance on how to navigate governance and finance challenges.
The materials will also be of interest to licensed property management agents, residents, and staff of Approved Housing Bodies and Local Authorities.
Watch the webinar
A short webinar on how to access the new resources is available on the Housing Agency’s YouTube channel.
EU-supported research underpins the materials. The research was overseen by a steering group of representatives from the SEAI; the Housing Agency; the Department of Climate, Energy and the Environment; and the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage.
*Views expressed are those of the author.
