With recent severe storm in Texas and other parts of the country, many communities experienced the dreaded pipe bursts that can occur with pipes and / or fire sprinkler lines freezing and thawing. Although after the fact now, here are some lessons learned from communities around the country: If your community experienced frozen pipes due…
Category: Consumption/Demand
What is Earth Hour?
Most of us are familiar with Earth Day, but what about Earth Hour? Each March, millions of people across the world participate in Earth Hour. To participate, people are turning off the lights in their homes and businesses and taking part in the world’s largest grassroots movement for the environment. Earth Hour began as a…
When Conservation Efforts Backfire
I was at the airport this morning and made my routine stop at the ladies’ room before boarding my flight. As I wheeled my bag into the stall with me, the toilet flushed. As I sat down, it flushed again. When I stood up, it flushed for a third time (this one was appreciated). I…
America’s Light Bulb Revolution
A recent article in the NY Times reports that “Solar panels and wind turbines get a lot of attention, but a more inconspicuous instrument is helping to reshape America’s energy economy right now: The humble light bulb.” Electricity use in the home has declined for the past 8 years after decades of steady increases, and…
Green Financing Provides Resident Benefits
Fannie Mae’s green financing was lunched over nine years ago and over 550,000 multifamily units have been built or retrofitted under the program. Fannie Mae studied the impact on residents and found them to be significant. Residents annual utility expenses decreased by 10% or $145 on average. That may not seem like much, but it…
Antiquated Utility Data – 3 Ways This is Costing You
Is your organization manually collecting and entering utility and energy data? If so, you may want to upgrade your process. Manual collection and data entry have hidden costs that are often overlooked and underestimated, but many firms today are still relying on this outdated method. Uncover the true costs and learn how automating your process…
Multifamily LEED Certifications May Have Peaked
Based on a recent reports the percentage of new units being LEED certified peaked in 2014 at 19%. In absolute numbers, the peak occurred in 2016 at 50,300 certified units. The top 10 areas with the highest LEED certified units per capita are in either in the Washington, DC metro area or Seattle, WA. Larger…
Benchmarking: How do you eat an Elephant?
Looking at Utility data and trying to figure what it means is like trying to eat an elephant. It’s massive. Where do you start? The answer it to take it one bite at a time. Focus on a region, city or state and pull your data down. I like excel. It is easy for me…
Energy Star
ENERGY STAR was launched by the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in 1992 as a voluntary program but it’s now co-managed by the US Department of Energy (DOE) and EPA. This program has become a symbol for energy efficiency in the country, helping individuals and businesses save money as well as protect the environment through…
What Recent Paper Price Increases Mean for You
In 2019, paper costs are expected to increase 3%-5%. So, what does that mean for business owners and multifamily professionals? Here are some of the way you and your organization may be impacted: • Higher prices when you order office paper (obviously} • Higher prices for other items that use paper pulp such as toilet…