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…
Category: Electricity
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…
Show your Residents that you care with LED
Many owners only considering replacing their common area lighting with LED since the energy savings directly benefit their bottom line. However, owners can benefit in multiple other ways when they upgrade the lighting in their units to LED, as pointed out in this recent article. https://www.propertymanagementinsider.com/fact-fiction-led-lights-multifamily Residents will appreciate the improved lighting and the $10-15…
Not all LED bulbs are created equal-Find out why!
While LED lighting saves energy, it’s important to know that not all LED bulbs are not created equal, so knowing what to look for when making a purchase is crucial. For tips on what to look for and an overview of important the steps for completing a lighting upgrade project, read more here: http://www.breeabuildings.com/yugoofcapitalprojects/ Wes…
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…
Average number of televisions in U.S. homes declining
A division of the US Dept of Energy recently posted an article citing a decline in the number of televisions per household. “Results from the U.S Energy Information Administration’s most recent Residential Energy Consumption Survey (RECS) show that an average of 2.3 televisions were used in American homes in 2015, down from an average of…
Get Your Energy Data Here
Are you interested in getting free energy data? The U.S. government produces a wealth of information on energy pricing that you can use for budgeting and projections for your portfolio. The U.S. Energy Information Association (EIA), part of the Department of Energy, provides independent statistics and analysis which is used by numerous professionals in…
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 Kent McDonaldKent works at RealPage and helps…
How Do Holiday Lights Work?
Here is an interesting article from the US Dept of Energy: “We’re getting into the holiday spirit here at the Department of Energy. Our stockings are hung by the chimney with care and we have strings of lights decorating our cubicles. While stringing up lights, I wanted to learn how exactly holiday lights work. Here’s…
INTERRUPTIBLE SERVICE FOR GAS HEAT
There are gas boilers that are installed in buildings that have a back-up system (either oil or electric) which allow you to pay a lower rate than general service. These are classed as interruptible with your local utility (IS or ISS). These interruptions often take place when the temperatures drop to single digits and the…