Inside WA's Leading Sustainable Build-to-Rent Development
- Aug 3
- 3 min read
Energy infrastructure is quietly becoming the biggest differentiator in Western Australian residential property. As construction costs rise and the rules tighten, the developments that win are the ones designed around how a community generates, stores and shares energy — not the ones that bolt it on afterwards. Tuohy Gardens in Midland is a working example of what that looks like when it's done properly, and on Friday 7 August Element47 is opening its doors so the WA property, strata and energy sector can see it first-hand.
Why build-to-rent is where sustainable energy design is moving fastest
Build-to-rent sits under single ownership, which changes the economics of energy completely. Instead of split incentives between a developer who builds and dozens of owners who pay the bills, one owner benefits directly from lower operating costs and better amenity. That alignment is exactly why build-to-rent has become the proving ground for integrated energy — and why the infrastructure on show at Tuohy Gardens is directly relevant to strata communities, developers and asset owners right across Perth.
What's actually running at Tuohy Gardens
The development brings together a set of technologies that are usually talked about in isolation and shows them working as one system:
Western Australia's largest apartment battery system, storing rooftop solar for use across the community rather than exporting it for a few cents.
Rooftop solar and an embedded microgrid with full utility metering, so energy generated on site is shared efficiently between apartments and common areas.
Public EV V2G (vehicle-to-grid) DC charging, letting electric vehicles both draw from and feed back into the system.
Community heat-pump hot water and integrated smart-building technology, cutting one of the largest energy loads in any residential building.
Seen together, it's a preview of where multi-residential energy is heading — and a practical reference for anyone weighing up embedded networks, shared batteries or EV readiness for their own project.
What it means for strata, owners and councils
For strata communities the questions are practical: what do embedded networks and shared batteries do to running costs, how do you manage common-area energy, and how do you make a building EV-ready without over-capitalising? The Alternative Electricity Services framework is reshaping how these services can be delivered inside strata schemes, and Tuohy Gardens is a chance to see the answers rather than read about them.
The compliance shift developers can't ignore
The National Construction Code (NCC) 2025 changes are pushing new projects toward higher energy performance, including expectations around rooftop solar PV, and the cost of compliance is climbing. Understanding how integrated design absorbs those requirements — rather than treating each as a separate cost line — is fast becoming a competitive advantage for developers and builders.
Funding the shift: batteries, VPPs and the WA scheme
The economics have also improved sharply for households and communities. Under the WA Residential Battery Scheme, eligible Synergy customers can access a rebate plus an interest-free loan toward a VPP-capable battery, turning a large upfront cost into a manageable, financed upgrade that can earn revenue through a virtual power plant. For owners and strata considering storage, that funding pathway changes the business case entirely.
See it for yourself
The showcase includes guided tours of the development, presentations from energy and sustainability experts including speakers from Curtin University, and networking over drinks and light refreshments.
Tour WA's Leading Sustainable Build-to-Rent Development📅 Friday 7 August 2026, 3:00–5:00pm📍 Tuohy Gardens, 40 Helena Street, Midland WA 6056🎟 Free — capacity is limited, and registration is essential.
Element47 helps developers, strata communities and asset owners design, fund and manage integrated energy — from embedded networks and batteries to EV readiness and common-area energy management.
Comments