FOR Port Melbourne apartment dweller Steve Brown, getting his owner corporation committee on board with energy cuts was easy once he told them how much money they could save.

Bayview Apartments’ owner corporation MiCM Property has now won the 2011 Carbonetix Managed Property Energy Efficiency Award.

The block of 270 apartments was running up bills of $12,000 every month, which have been slashed to $6000.

As a former electrician, Mr Brown pushed for change which has now saved owner/occupiers thousands in body corporate fees.

“We have decreased the body corporate fees through the energy savings we are making and these can be reduced further because it covers a lot more than electricity,” Mr Brown said.“We haven’t even touched gas and water yet where there can be savings.”

Carbonetix spokesperson Peter Lambert said through a range of measures the block had reduced running costs substantially and was avoiding 92 tonnes of carbon pollution every year.

***Full Article from the Port Phillip Leader 13 Dec 2011 by Sally Spalding found here***

The project was undertaken with support from the Port Phillip City Council SOCs and Blocks program.