Author: Kent McDonald

What the heck is a microgrid?  Could your multifamily community benefit from one? According to Utility Dive, “Microgrids are an old concept, but recently they’ve garnered renewed interest within the power sector. For years, utilities have invested in centralized plants, building miles and miles of transmission lines to ship power where it needs to go….

Did you know that last year the United States exported more natural gas than it imported?  This could put increasing pressure on prices.  According to Energy Information Administration: “The United States exported more natural gas than it imported in 2017, marking the first time since 1957 that the United States has been a net natural…

Interesting article: “7 Easy Steps to an Energy-Efficient Apartment is your guide to simple, energy-saving solutions in your space. IMT created this resource in partnership with the District of Columbia Sustainable Energy Utility (DCSEU)….” Read More Kent McDonaldKent works at RealPage and helps apartment firms reduce operating costs related to utilities. You can connect with…

Did you know that the US Dept of Energy has a sub-site dedicated to sharing information about how to save money by saving energy?  Some articles are oriented toward single-family housing, but many tips are applicable to multifamily as well.  You can find the resource at: https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/energy-saver. Kent McDonaldKent works at RealPage and helps apartment firms…

Do you ever wonder if your righteous efforts at recycling really do any good? If so, perhaps this article will help: “If you’ve an avid recycler like myself, chances are you’ve wondered, as you stuffed all your bottles in the bin — what really happens to all this stuff? Maybe you’re curious about why some…

According to Utility Dive, “Women composed 22% of the utility workforce compared to 47% nationwide in other industries. This is all despite studies showing women benefit a company’s bottom line…”  For inspiration and practical insight on how changes can be made, check out this article: https://www.utilitydive.com/news/women-power-utilities-industry/519877/ Kent McDonaldKent works at RealPage and helps apartment firms reduce…

There are many commodities that fall under the “energy” umbrella, but natural gas and electricity are the two most applicable to multifamily.  To stay up to date on the constantly fluctuating prices of Energy Markets, try bookmarking one or more of these websites: RealPage’s Energy Market Outlook: https://www.realpage.com/utility-management/outlook/ US Dept of Energy’s Short-Term Energy Outlook: https://www.eia.gov/outlooks/steo/ Natural…

Expand your energy knowledge through the US Dept of Energy’s series highlighting “Top Things You Didn’t Know.”  Coming in at the top of the list for Combined Heat and Power: “Often called cogeneration or CHP, a combined heat and power system provides both electric power and heat from a single fuel source….” Read More Kent McDonaldKent works at…

Some interesting points in this article on GreenBiz: “Today most executives recognize that sustainability must be integrated into their organization’s core strategy — not to say that they necessarily understand why….” Read More Kent McDonaldKent works at RealPage and helps apartment firms reduce operating costs related to utilities. You can connect with Kent at LinkedIn.com/in/kentmcd…