NSW Fair Trading Minister Virginia Judge has announced climate-friendly initiatives effective today to help strata owners cut energy costs and greenhouse gas emissions.

Ms Judge said the Strata Schemes Management Regulation 2010 features a new by-law for the hanging of washing and another to enable documents to be provided to strata owners via email.

“These new by-laws will help to reduce household bills and make good environmental sense by decreasing dryer time and reducing snail mail,” Ms Judge said.

“Use of a dryer just once a week could account for ten per cent of the annual power bill for a two bedroom flat.

“More than 600 kilograms of green house gas emissions are generated each year, by using a dryer three times a week.”

The model strata by-law will now enable strata residents to hang their washing on a balcony – or anywhere else on their lot – as long as it is not visible from the street outside the complex.

The by-law will not apply retrospectively to existing strata schemes, but will be the default by-law for new schemes registered from 1 September 2010. New schemes can choose to exclude the model washing by-law if it does not suit their strata complex.

Existing strata schemes can also adopt the new by-law by passing a special resolution at their next owners’ meeting.

Ms Judge said enabling owners corporations to use e-mail to communicate with strata residents could help strata owners save significant time and money in printing and mailing costs.

“As well as these two important initiatives in the new regulation, I have asked Fair Trading to prepare kits for owners corporations to help improve environmental sustainability,” Ms Judge said.

“Many strata residents are keen to install rainwater tanks, solar power or gas hot water systems, but may be uncertain about the process for getting owners corporation approval.”

The new kits will include information on the benefits of installing environmentally-friendly measures, a ‘how-to’ guide to making and amending the necessary by-laws to make it easier for owners and help save on legal costs.

The first set of kits is currently being developed and will soon be made available from this website.

Any member of the public who is interested in obtaining the kits should email policy@services.nsw.gov.au to register their interest and lodge their contact details.

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