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…
Category: Green/Renewable
Smart Apartments….you need to look under the mat
Everyone is talking about Smart Apartments. Smart this. Smart that. I think that it is important to consider, when you are evaluating either building Smart Apartments or retrofitting existing apartment building that you first start by looking at your infrastructure. That means the cable wiring. How will the smart locks work? What happens if you…
Does it make a difference if just one person recycles?
Have you ever wondered if one person can really have an impact on the environment if they recycle? Many people tend to think that the actions of one individual do not have that much impact, and that recycling is only beneficial if everyone does it. Well, that is actually not the case. The actions of…
Tariff Impact on Energy Pricing
The tariffs proposed by the current administration could have an impact on the apartment industry. How? In energy cost increases. The tariffs will increase the cost of steel and aluminum used in pipelines and solar projects. This could impact the cost of energy. Also, if we have more plans here in the US using power…
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. Wes Winterstein
What is a “Green Lease”?
Have you heard of a “green lease”? A green lease is just like a regular apartment lease, but it outlines specific terms that residents and landlords must adhere to surrounding the community’s sustainability policies. Green leases are now included in top multifamily industry trends. The article below shows green leases within their Top 5…
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…
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…
Top 9 Things You Didn’t Know About On-Site Wind Power
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 On-Site or Distributed Wind Power: “Distributed wind power is used at or near where it is generated, as opposed to wind power from wholesale generation, where power is sent to consumers via…
Tying Sustainability and Efficiency Into Daily Operations
As industry professionals responsible for managing utility programs and ancillary services departments, we all tend to think about “big picture” and “high level” items. However, it is important to consider what our sites are doing on a daily operational level to support and reinforce some of the larger sustainability and cost savings initiatives that we…