South Australian community housing trialling solar to reduce tenant bills 

45 community housing units are now being powered with solar energy in South Australia thanks to a new pilot rolled out by Community Housing Limited (CHL) and 369 Labs, with plans for more. 

Community Housing Limited (CHL) and 369 Labs have joined forces to install solar power in 45 South Australian properties as part of a pilot program to cut tenant power bills and enhance the lives of those living in social and affordable housing.

Community development manager for CHL Leonie Fuchs said the collaboration came about after CHL saw the work 369 Labs were doing with other community housing providers.

Fuchs said that the long-term goal is for all of CHL’s South Australian properties to have solar.

“I was talking to our assets manager and long term we would like to have solar on all of our properties but that, of course is the long, long term goal,” she said.

The Tier 1 community housing provider manages over 1200 community housing dwellings on behalf of the SA Housing Authority.

Fuchs explained the tenants have a device provided by 369 Labs which pulses green when the solar panels are engaged so the tenants know when they are not being charged for power.

“Whatever isn’t used goes back to community housing so we can put that credit towards more solar installations,” she said. 

“We would like to roll out more in the over 55 demographic as they are home more – and they deserve it. I’m all about advocating for them and giving them what they deserve.”

The pilot went live in June, with tenants already seeing a decrease in their utility bills, though they are projected to see an overall reduction of 25 per cent or more. 

A private company with a social conscience

369 Labs CEO Domenico Gelonese said it is a family company that was started due to the “massive inequality in the power market”.

“Energy has gone up by 12 per cent this year alone. Those who could use the savings solar provides the most were not able to access it financially,” Gelonese said.

“Before this project, we sold solar nationally, and you have a great opportunity to get feedback. What we heard time and time again was ‘how do we know when it’s working?’

“That is what gave us the idea for the pulse device. The speed of the flashing correlates with how much solar is being used,” he said.

369 Labs have hundreds of pilots operating up and down the eastern seaboard and in Tasmania.

Gelonese said each property generates on average 10,089 kWh of renewable energy each year, reducing the need for traditional energy by 6.56 tonnes of carbon emissions.

Each set-up on average costs “around $7,000” per property to install.