According to the GRESB website, “In 2009 three large pension funds joined forces to better understand their exposure to risks related to environmental, social and governance (ESG) issues in their global portfolios of investments in property companies and private equity real estate funds… Five years later, sustainability reporting has become standard practice for a large…
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Update on Water Restrictions in California
As of April 1, 2015, the Governor Brown has called for a Mandatory 25% reduction in water use in Urban Areas. The new water restrictions (and the penalties that will follow) are going to impact Multifamily communities. Where we, as an industry, will see the greatest impact is in our irrigation practices and landscape appearance….
Upcoming Training Opportunities with ENERGY STAR®
Spring has sprung and now is a perfect time to start nurturing your ENERGY STAR education! Join EPA to learn about a variety of topics, including financing energy efficiency upgrades, and ENERGY STAR success stories in the multifamily housing sector. To register for upcoming trainings, click the links below or visit esbuildings.webex.com. If you…
Top Ten Sustainability Measures
Happy Earth Day! Sometime last year, I saw a list of top ways that commercial real estate professionals can make energy efficiency and sustainability a priority was published by Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA) International. Many of their ideas also apply to multi-family buildings, but a few of them maybe not so much. Here is…
“Climate Change” Or “Global Warming?” Two New Polls Suggest Language Matters.
The phrase “climate change” appears to have less baggage and more acceptance. Here is an interesting article from Scientific American: “On Friday, a new Yale-Associated Press-NORC poll on environmental attitudes reported that just 56 percent of Americans believe global warming is happening. This seems a bit low to me given our UT Energy Poll data…
Danger! Danger! California Water Restrictions Updated
Warning! California Drought Alert for 2015 As of April 1, 2015 the Governor of California has mandated a 25% reduction of water consumption in all urban areas and given the ability to Water providers and Cities to fine you if you do not comply. Additionally, irrigation of landscape is restricted. You will only be given…
Several states now encouraging electric vehichles
The West Coast states – not only California but also Washington and Oregon – have been aggressive about its support for electric vehicles (EVs). But did you know that the list of other “states” that offer encouragement for EVs include Maryland, the District of Columbia, Arizona, Louisiana, Missouri, New York, Oklahoma,Utah, Hawaii, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee,…
Could the nerds save us money on electricity? Better batteries could be the key
Really smart people are working hard on electricity storage research – in other words, making better batteries. When they succeed, it could reduce the price volatility of electricity for wholesalers and consumers. “Variability in electricity demand highlights potential roles for electricity storage” from the Energy Information Administration Electric power storage section from US Dept of…
Top 8 Things You Didn’t Know About Daylight Saving Time
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 Daylight Savings Time: “This Sunday, people across the country will set their clocks forward an hour, marking the start to Daylight Saving Time….” Read More
EPA Recognizes the First Existing Apartments with ENERGY STAR Certification
In case you missed it: “WASHINGTON – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced [Nov 13, 2014] the first existing multifamily housing properties to earn the new ENERGY STAR multifamily certification for superior energy performance. EPA recognized 17 apartment and condo buildings across the country for leading the industry in reducing energy use, increasing affordability,…