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An Interview with David Hamilton future-proof your OC with EV charging

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The Knight Alliance

Owners corporation managers are seeing increasing demand for retrofitting electric vehicle (EV) charging into apartment buildings. The Knight recently spoke with David Hamilton, an OC committee member at Triptych and EV charging solutions consultant. He graciously agreed to share with us his experiences with EV charging in strata.


The Knight: Starting with your Owners Corporation, Triptych, could you explain what drives your sustainability ethos?


David: Triptych was designed to be a building with extensive sustainability features incorporated into it from its conception in 2007, so it was ahead of the curve as far as Melbourne high-rise apartment developments back then, and even today.


Sustainability has been a key attraction for many owners and renters over its history but more so today with greater awareness of climate change and the need to transition to a low carbon economy. In a building where the ethos is sustainability, it is an easy step for people to understand the benefits of becoming EV ready. In fact, some of us started thinking about what would be needed as far back as 2016.


The Knight: What common pitfalls do you see other buildings fall into when looking into EV charging?


David: My experience talking with a number of owners and OC Committees is that retrofitting can be divisive because some owners and committee members do not subscribe to sustainability. This goes to deeper issues in society; we have not recognised the need to use resources efficiently and preserve the environment. But in strata, it is not a personal choice you can make like in a house. You need consensus leadership from the Committee that recognises people are living in a community which needs to embrace divergent views and constantly change and evolve.


Unfortunately, there are lots of myths and disinformation about EV charging and strata that confuse people. I am attempting to assist OC Committees on the journey to make their building EV ready by understanding just what is required and how it can be delivered in a low risk and simple fashion.


The Knight: How can we help facilitate the community wide decision to adopt EV charging?


David: OC Managers and committees need processes that bring people on the journey towards sustainability and avoid divisive debates. You need to recognise you are living in a community and there is a collective responsibility to improve the lot of all owners, rather than preserve the status quo or sectional interests.


Owners Corporation Committees have a duty of care to all owners and to protect and preserve the common property in a way that enhances the value of all owners’ assets, especially their building’s image and individual apartment values.


A good starting point is to ask residents and owners their views and let them see what is possible. Engaging via surveys is great; not just about sustainability and EV but about important common property issues. Surveys educate people but more importantly, they show the committee is listening. They also have the benefit of airing and addressing objections and revealing where the majority of residents stand on a topic. Read More


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