We have enjoyed fairly stable oil prices lately. But, is that something we can rely on in the future. Many say that will not be the case. Increased conflicts in the Middle East there could be destabilize the oil market. Also, there is some question whether US shale gas will continue to produce in the…
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Women compose only 22% of the utility workforce
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/
Stay up to date on Energy Markets
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…
Walk Scores Explained
With some Internet Listing Services and property websites now including a community’s walk score, its important to understand just what this means and how it impacts the marketability of the community. There is even an app that potential renters can download that allows them to find apartments in their desired area based on walk score….
Return on Energy Awards Nominations OPEN NOW
Nominate a UMA member! The NAA Return on Energy (R.O.E.) Awards recognize apartment communities that have mastered the sustainability and energy reduction equation. The R.O.E. awards spotlight action and results in energy management beneficial to the apartment housing industry. The program is intended to educate industry professionals on how benchmarking information can be used to…
What “Green Features” actually matter to residents?
Our industry typically has a lot of discussion surrounding what type of “green features” residents want in their homes, and more specifically, how much they are willing to pay for these features. While the verdict may still somewhat be out on how much renters will actually pay for any given “green feature”, there are some…
Energy-efficient green buildings may emit hazardous chemicals
It’s worth being informed. Perhaps a drafty living space isn’t such a bad thing after all! Read more from Reuters article on energy-efficient buildings potentially releasing hazardous chemicals here.
Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Cogeneration
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
Have You Switched to LED Yet?
LED technology has improved to the point where you should take another look. The prices have come down and the quality has gone up, so it is really in the “sweet spot” for an investment. And it really is a quality investment with significant value-add for your community, and not just on energy savings which…
Marketing your “Green” Efforts
We began to market our “green” efforts as we implemented them at our properties. Not because potential residents were requesting the information, but because we wanted to stand out from our competition We wanted the current and potential residents to know that we had taken steps to save them money. So, we started educating the…