People often wonder if it’s possible to put a solar panel on a property that actually makes the energy meter “spin backwards” and make money on a solar system. Some states let you do this and some do not. The hyperlink below is to a website that I found recently giving you the “where and…
Category: Green/Renewable
LEED Certification in Multifamily – Does it matter?
For commercial buildings, studies have shown that LEED buildings have lower operating costs and better air quality than non-LEED certified buildings. For multifamily properties, the LEED certification process is a new trend and seems to be driven by market conditions or client demand. Millenials make up a huge part of the apartment industry and are…
Engaging Residents for Green Living
Resident behavior greatly affects the overall environmental impact of your property. If you are trying to promote initiatives at your property, educating residents is a critical part of the program. Whether you begin to educate potential residents on the property tour or wait until the lease is signed, it is important to start educating early….
Wow! Check out West Village
Although I indicated that I would discuss the characteristics of my Icon buildings this entry, I am going to switch gears and talk about an existing project that I just had the great fortune to tour last week. West Village, in Davis California, is the largest NZE Multifamily project in the Nation. It has over…
Top 6 Things You Didn’t Know About Solar Energy
Expand your energy knowledge through the US Dept of Energy’s series highlighting “Top Things You Didn’t Know.” Coming in at Number Six on the list for Solar Energy: “Solar energy is the most abundant energy resource on earth – 173,000 terawatts of solar energy strikes the Earth continuously….” Read More Kent McDonaldKent works at RealPage and helps apartment firms…
Presenting our Two Sites for the Conversion to Net Zero
I am pleased to introduce my two buildings for our “Conversion to Net Zero” experience: Icon at Park and Icon at Doyle in Emeryville California. I chose these two sites for a few key reasons: These sites represent two different construction types: Icon at Doyle is 3-story construction with 27 townhome-style dwellings and an underground…
How new turbine technology will open up the Southeast to wind development
Interesting article from Utility Dive: “Wind turbine technology is about to open up an almost untouched sector of the U.S. market. With over 82,000 MW of coal, natural gas, and nuclear capacity in the region being generated by infrastructure that is over 40 years old, the economic opportunity could be enormous….” Read More Kent McDonaldKent…
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,…
U.S. Teeters at Turning Point for Energy
Cost of energy from solar and oil is dropping. Cost of coal-related electricity generation is headed up. 2015 should be an interesting ride. Here is an interesting article from Scientific American: “Road tripping used to feel like it broke the bank, with gasoline prices in many places hovering above $3.50 per gallon or higher. Today,…
How will the new Congress handle energy issues?
The 114th Congress convenes January 6, 2015 at noon Eastern. A recent posting from Utility Dive offers some predictions on how they will handle energy issues: “Crucial energy-related decisions with 2016 deadlines will face the new Republican-dominated Congress beginning in January.” Read More Kent McDonaldKent works at RealPage and helps apartment firms reduce operating costs related…