Here is an interesting article from the US Dept of Energy: “Professional energy assessments generally go into great detail to assess your home’s energy use. The energy auditor will do a room-by-room examination of the residence, as well as a thorough examination of past utility bills. Many professional energy assessments will include a blower door test….”…
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Have You Been Paying Attention to the Price of Water
The average monthly cost of water for U.S. consumers went up 6% in 2015 and has risen 41% since 2010, according to Circle of Blue, an industry research group. “We expect water rates to continue to grow above inflation for some time. We don’t see an ends in sight” says Andrew Ward, Director of U.S….
Getting Started
Perhaps a tired issue, but still is a tough one: “How to begin” the conservation efforts. The task of harnessing all of our properties utilities – measuring, reducing, continuing the process, is daunting. What are my criteria? Well, I want anything that will make an impact immediately and over the long haul, save money, have…
Gas Pricing Update
Gas pricing has been up and down over the last year. Gas hit near a historic low in March of 2016 $.16 per therm. This is the lowest price since 1999. It has increased to $.40 per therm as of December 2016. Since the December high, pricing has come back down again to around $.25…
Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Wind Power
Expand your energy knowledge through the US Dept of Energy’s series highlighting “Top Things You Didn’t Know.” Coming in at Number 10 on the list for Wind Power: “Human civilizations have harnessed wind power for thousands of years. Early forms of windmills used wind to crush grain or pump water….” Read More
Can we learn from the hotel industry?
I travel a lot for business, and I am often struck by the similarities between the apartment industry and the hotel industry. I’m constantly noticing every detail at hotels and I like to find new things within the hospitality industry that I can bring back and implement at the apartment communities I manage. One thing…
Energy Saver 101 Infographic: Landscaping
Did you know that landscaping could save energy? Learn more about the basics of saving energy through a cool infographic from the US Dept of Energy (high resolution versions available for download on their site): “After a long, cold winter, Spring has finally sprung. As flowers begin to bloom and trees sprout new leaves, we are…
Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About America’s Advanced Energy Research
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 Advanced Energy Research: “Modeled after the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) — the agency that brought us the GPS, the stealth fighter and computer networking — the Energy Department’s Advanced Research…
Infographic: Hot Water Heating
Learn more about the basics of saving energy through a cool infographic from the US Dept of Energy (high resolution versions available for download on their site): “We are all guilty of using a little too much hot water in our daily lives — whether it is spending an extra two minutes in the shower, leaving…
Zero Net Energy Communities – Say What?!
You may have heard the term “Zero New Energy” (ZNE) or “Net Zero” used to describe apartment communities recently. Perhaps you heard this and were thinking to yourself, “say what?!” Simply stated, a Zero Net Energy community or building is one that, on an annual basis, produces as much or more energy than it consumes….