The smarter way to live - inside the energy partnership powering Veue

How Sekisui House Australia and Altogether are helping Veue residents save money and reduce their environmental footprint

Veue (Stage 4) is the next stage in The Orchards masterplan in Norwest. Buyers could save up to $849 a year on energy bills, reduce their environmental footprint and enjoy a better and more connected way of living. Veue Central opens in October supported by an up to $50K bonus settlement rebate for a limited time.

Rather than treating utilities as an afterthought, Sekisui House Australia integrated energy infrastructure into the community design from the outset, helping reduce household costs for residents over the long term.

The company believes the measure of a development is not just what is provided at handover, but what it keeps delivering for residents for generations to come.

According to George Gesouras, Project Director at Sekisui House Australia, “We invest in infrastructure that delivers ongoing value for residents, rather than simply meeting minimum requirements. Partners like Altogether are selected because they align with our standards and values demonstrated by a commitment to quality, sustainability and community creation.”

A better deal on energy by design

Altogether was selected to deliver energy at Veue instead of leaving residents to buy electricity, hot water and gas individually. The business purchases power for the whole community and shares it via a central gate meter to each apartment's own smart meter, buying at a scale no single household could match alone.

The result is electricity, hot water and gas cooktop rates well below the default market offer, the Australian Energy Regulator's benchmark for comparing energy deals. For a typical apartment that can mean:

•           One-bedroom: up to $227 in potential annual savings

•           Two-bedroom: up to $538 in potential annual savings

•             Three-bedroom: up to $849 in potential annual savings

The embedded network works the same way across all three Veue buildings. The advantage does not change depending on which building you choose, only how much energy the household uses.

“Compared to the default market offer, residents can save between 14 and 30 percent across electricity, hot water and gas cooktops. This isn't a projection. It is real data drawn from across the precinct,” said Candice Suttor, Head of Thriving Communities at Altogether.

“Residents also benefit through lower common property costs. Solar energy generated across the community is credited back to the community association, cutting the cost of running community facilities like the pool, gym and lobby by 3.6 to 5 percent a year depending on solar generation.”

Move into Veue and the energy infrastructure is already installed and running, fully owned and maintained on residents' behalf. Residents still hold their own individual energy account and pay only for what they use. A smart meter records consumption automatically, so there is no need for manual meter reads. Setting up is as simple as following the information pack provided at move-in.

A solar network built at scale

A growing rooftop solar network sits across The Orchards. About 1,200 square metres of panels are already installed with 170 kW of capacity, generating an estimated 258 MWh of renewable electricity a year. That capacity is set to double in the near future.

That energy first offsets the cost of running shared infrastructure such as lifts, common lighting, parks and car parks. Through the Solar Credit Scheme that value is credited back to the community, worth an estimated $71,000 a year depending on generation and prices.

It also means less carbon in the atmosphere. Once fully operational the network is projected to avoid about 1,452 tonnes of CO2 equivalent emissions by 2050. That is similar to planting almost 25,000 trees for a decade or taking more than 3,200 cars off the road.

Veue is also designed with electric vehicles in mind. An EV charging network runs through the parking areas. More than 100 owners have already requested chargers for private spaces and two shared chargers are available in public areas. Anyone who buys an EV later can simply order a charger and connect to the building's infrastructure.

A partnership built to last

Choosing Altogether was a carefully considered decision. The company’s track record in previous residential projects including Central Park in Sydney’s CBD, owned by Sekisui House Australia and Frasers Property Australia helped secure the relationship.

“This partnership has been operating across Stages 1 to 3 of The Orchards for many years and residents are saving thousands of dollars. It shows people living in high-rise apartments can benefit from solar just as much as those in a standalone home,” added George.

Satisfaction scores over the past 12 months sit at 81.3 percent for Lumia and 90 percent at Imperial, proof that the experience holds up when residents move in.

Register your interest in Veue today to make the most of the up to $50k bonus settlement rebate offer before it closes. T&C apply. https://www.sekisuihouse.com.au/the-orchards/releases/homeowner-package/ www.theorchards.com.au