Stucco Co-operative – Solar + Storage in multi-unit apartment housing 2017

House Notes – Stucco Co-operative – Solar + Storage in multi-unit apartment housing

Stucco is a housing co-operative for low-income students of the University of Sydney. It has 46 bedrooms and 25 bathrooms in this heritage listed building.

In December 2016, Stucco became the first apartment building in Australia to install Solar PV and battery storage. This pioneering initiative was led by student tenants of the co-operative, with the assistance of a grant from the City of Sydney council.

The roof hosts a 30.2kW solar system which is linked to 40kWh of useable storage through a system of stacked Enphase batteries. This is Enphase’s largest battery installation in the world to date. The system provides over 75% of the electricity needs of the building, saving the students money on power bills and establishing Stucco as a carbon negative building.

The students strive to live sustainably, surrounded by green leafy plants, with 3 washing machines between 40 people and no air-conditioners, dishwashers or heating. Stucco’s uniquely converted architecture, communal living and modern smart-monitored solar system makes for an interesting visit into an alternate world right in the heart of Newtown.

Tours of the apartment will commence at 12pm and run every 1/2 hour until 2pm with the help of City of Sydney and The Jon Boys