Across the United States, an increasing number of residential properties are being exposed to the concept of demand charges. Demand charges do provide some opportunities to reduce your monthly bill but understanding how they work is a crucial element to accomplish that. What many don’t realize is that demand charges may make up to 30%…
Author: Chris Laughman
Accomplished subject matter expert in sustainable business practices, occupant wellness, and efficient real estate facility operations. Proven experience in coaching teams that deliver effective solutions while igniting innovation. A results oriented professional, adept in creating value and building consensus. Skilled in delivering sustainable solutions, including analytical analysis, benchmarking, reducing energy consumption, increasing water conservation, waste minimization, managing carbon impact, while enhancing the human experience. Proven record of developing reporting strategies, policy implementation, resident engagement programs, compliance practices, green certifications, and the development of strategic sustainability programs.
At Bright Power, I help my clients strategically manage energy and water, leaning on my experience in managing some of the largest multi-family portfolios in the world and partnered with some of the most innovative engineers in the industry, we develop cost effective solutions. We have the team and resources to save properties energy, money, and time through a comprehensive set of solutions that include our EnergyScoreCards software-as-a-service, energy efficiency (energy audits, system design, controls and implementation) as well as solar energy. I look forward to helping you address your energy and water consumption concerns.
Electrification, Ready or Not Here it Comes!
There is perhaps no other industry trend that has the momentum of electrification across the United States building codes are quietly being ushering in that represent significant evidence that this change is happening and happening now. San Francisco, Oakland, and San Jose, along with 40 other cities across California, have passed electrification ordinances representing more…
The #1 Sustainability Program Blind Spot
When we talk about 39% of the emissions of the world coming from the built environment, we often focus almost exclusively on the 75% of those emissions that are the result of our operations. The energy consumption associated with operations. In 2019, however, we finally began to again mention the other 25% – the emissions…
2 Heating Strategies to Reduce Energy Consumption
The logical place to look next for utility efficiency after the lighting retrofit has been completed is heating – heating air and water heating. This is why the Heat Pump has been touted as the next “big thing” in energy consumption. In addition to significantly improving efficiency, the Heat Pump is also an essential element…
The Intersection of Recycling and Sustainability
Understanding the impacts of the waste stream can be tricky and understanding the role of waste in sustainability can at times be a twisting road to follow. Our waste stream impacts us in many ways. Globally a significant amount of energy is required to process pulp and paper. Using recycled paper uses 65% less energy…
Is your portfolio prepared for Performance Building Standards?
On January 1, Washington DC’s Building Energy Performance Standards became the latest jurisdiction to enact a Performance-Based Building Energy Standard; if you are a real estate owner in the District of Columbia of an asset over 50,000 square feet and already mandated to benchmark, the new Building Energy Performance Standards (BEPS) applies to your building….
Vampire loads, scarier than you might think
As our world includes more devices, the role of energy consumption by these plugged in devices becomes an increasingly important topic. In fact, a Stanford Study showed that on average, 23% of household electricity consumption in Northern California was not only the result of plugged in devices, but idle plugged in devices. These inactive plug…
How much does that light bulb really cost
Going green is really a mindset, a mindset of not wasting things, not buying things you don’t need or use. One of the areas often mentioned as an early place to go green is lighting. It makes complete sense since lighting is a large percentage of the total electrical expense for offices and residences alike….
Energy thieves, identifying overlooked suspects
You’ve looked at your lighting, you’ve looked at your HVAC, you have even looked at your building envelope. How is it possible to still have high energy use when you have covered these important areas. The suspects might be hiding in plain sight. By taking understanding their role and taking a few easy steps, you…