By 2050, many Sydney apartments built to today’s standards could be too hot for weeks at a time

Sydney's apartment stock built under current standards faces a serious livability challenge as climate projections to 2050 show extended periods of extreme heat. The research indicates that buildings designed to meet today's thermal comfort and energy efficiency benchmarks will struggle to maintain safe or comfortable indoor temperatures during future heatwaves. With Penrith already hitting 48.9°C in January 2020—the highest temperature recorded in Greater Sydney—modelling suggests many apartments will experience weeks where internal temperatures become dangerously high, particularly in upper floors and units with limited shading or ventilation. This creates a cascade of problems: increased reliance on air conditioning (driving energy consumption and costs), potential health risks for vulnerable residents, and questions about whether current building codes adequately protect occupants against foreseeable climate scenarios.

The findings challenge the adequacy of current NCC compliance pathways and building design practices for residential apartments. Strata managers, building owners, and remedial practitioners need to consider whether retrofitting existing apartments with improved thermal mass, external shading, ventilation systems, or reflective glazing becomes a remedial priority rather than an optional upgrade. As climate-related defects and performance failures emerge, liability questions will follow—particularly for buildings that fail to meet future liveability standards.