A team of researchers from the University of Texas at Austin released a report on the level of energy use in water delivery to citizens of the U.S., finding that no less than 12.6 percent of the nation’s total annual energy consumption is devoted to the task.

The team traced water from its source […]

Northwest power utilities have been pushing for energy conservation. It’s a way they can keep up with their customers’ future demand for electricity. There are plenty of incentives if you buy an energy efficient appliance. But these days, utilities are finding more inventive ways to promote awareness.

Keith McIndoo and ten of his family […]

I’ve been to a few multifamily events this year dealing with utility management and conservation. It is great to see our industry embrace the efforts to be more environmentally friendly.

With regard to conservation, the theme of “just do something” seemed to resonate from the sessions I attended. As I thought about that concept, […]

Current economic conditions are compelling multifamily operators to control costs more than ever. However, the unintended consequences of cutting certain services may actually be more costly, even detrimental, in the long-run.

Case in point: One owner who used a utility billing provider to bill residents, decided to bring the function in-house to save money. […]

Across the U.S., the Green Building Council has helped thousands of developers win tax breaks and grants, charge higher rents, exceed local building restrictions and get expedited permitting by certifying them as “green” under a system that often rewards minor, low-cost steps that have little, or no, proven environmental benefit.

The council has certified […]

With the counting finished, the American populace seemingly voted for the political status quo in what many pundits believed would be a “change” election.

With the counting finished, the American populace seemingly voted for the political status quo in what many pundits believed would be a “change” election. President Barack Obama won four more […]

The American Council for Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE), with the support of the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation, is undertaking a multi-year project to improve and expand utility programs to improve the energy efficiency of multifamily housing.

The goal of the project is to expand the number of utilities offering multifamily energy-efficiency programs, […]

When evaluating trash enclosures, configuration, and community requirements, remember the movie, Flashdance. Not as much for the pressure washing of Jennifer Beals, as for the film’s powerful and innovative use of legwarmers. Remember legwarmers? They were iconic in the 80s.

Like legwarmers, compactors were iconic multifamily trash enclosures. In the 1970s and early 80s, […]

No doubt, our nation’s energy is in a state of flux. Never before have we seen such an onslaught of federal, state and local regulation, sometimes in direct contradiction. It’s further confounded by differing charters of thought, political environments, and even Acts of God.

Last month, super storm Sandy knocked out power to over […]