Several power-saving initiatives are being implemented at The Orchards, a new masterplanned residential community being developed by Sekisui House Australia in Norwest, Sydney, to provide future residents ongoing savings in utility costs.
Working in partnership with local multi-utility company Flow Systems, Sekisui House will be installing a high-rise rooftop solar panel system, one of the largest of its kind in the world, at The Orchards. The system is expected to provide the community 1GWh of free solar power every year for use in common areas such as the outdoor cinema and wellness centre. Additionally, a local energy utility, The Orchard’s Energy comprising of state-of-the-art monitoring systems will also be implemented along with a bundled energy offer that will allow residents to save up to 35 percent a year on their utility costs.
These power-saving initiatives will reduce carbon emissions at the community and have the equivalent effect of planting around 15,000 trees per year. With energy prices rising every year across Australia, future residents of the Norwest community will also have peace of mind in terms of their energy costs, says Sekisui House Marketing and Operations Manager, Paul Wainwright, who observes that the solution will benefit not just owner-occupiers, but also investors and their tenants who can finally access world-class amenity with lower power costs.
He added that residents will benefit from a lower cost of living as well as higher property values, with the obvious bonus of energy savings to this degree resulting in lower community levies and strata costs.
Flow Systems Founder, Terry Leckie said The Orchards’ bundled energy solution will provide a result people expect from energy utilities.
Scheduled for full completion in 2024, The Orchards will offer 1,300 luxury apartments over five stages of development with residents having access to several amenities including a two-storey wellness centre with a gymnasium, outdoor lagoon style pool, community café, extensive landscaping and lighting throughout tree-lined pathways, and even an outdoor cinema. Additionally, the much-awaited Sydney North West Metro currently under construction is just 500 metres from The Orchards.
