Today’s apartment owners are tasked with finding digital solutions for more livable communities. It’s a new day and a new experience for resident and owner, alike.
As apartment communities become more intelligent, operations must become more efficient and communities more responsive. From utility billing to maintenance requests to predictive analytics, we’re beginning to see […]
Summer is expected to bring warmer than normal temperatures, some grid vulnerability—and higher prices.
Electricity is unlike any other utility. It cannot be stored and the supply must be exactly matched to the highly variable demand at all times. In 2016, there were 8,084 power plants delivering a total of 4,137.1 terawatt-hours of […]
As IoT devices continue to gain traction with apartment residents, there is a new and growing expectation among renters.
The internet of things (IoT) is defined as an internet where everyday objects have network connectivity that allows them to send and receive data. Connected devices afford residents with lifestyle benefits and convenience, and make […]
If you aren’t collecting, learning and getting prescriptive guidance from your data, your system is not working.
The race is on.
Hundreds of buildings have already become integral players in the emergence of smart cities. Then there’s the national march toward aggregating and analyzing all of the country’s building data through EPA’s Portfolio Manager […]
At the end of August, the Energy Star metric will experience a sweeping reset that is certain to push some properties out of the range of qualification. The recalculation will affect all building types and the average scores of nearly all categories, including multifamily housing, are expected to drop—many by double digits.
The updated […]
The foundation for using energy responsibly is resident behavior. Benchmarking is important. Data analysis is critical. But connecting resident consumption with the “on” and “off” switch moves the needle. Can apartment operators really motivate residents to conserve energy and water in their apartments and make a significant impact? Behavioral scientists say “yes.”
The concept […]
The internet of things (IoT) has taken the nation by storm. However, its value to an apartment operation is as varied as the nation’s rental product itself. While home chore automation and security have inspired a surge of innovation and enthusiasm, a more direct and obvious driver of cost recovery is already in place […]
Green roofs—solar, garden and combination—are making their way across the country, with the latest ordinance now in effect in Denver, Colo. As owners and operators assess what such measures add to the cost of multifamily construction and retrofits, many wonder about the benefits, detriments and pay-offs of this latest regulatory trend.
Green roofs are nothing […]
The architect may design it. The builder may build it. The manager may even lease it. But no one knows about the physical performance of a property—inside and out—like the maintenance team. In fact, a recent study found that maintenance techs (or facilities managers) have direct or indirect impact on 82 percent of the […]
Energy Star began identifying energy efficient computers and printers in 1995, and the rest is history. Today, it has rated thousands of apartment properties across the country through its Portfolio Manager benchmarking tool, most recently adding waste to its lineup. Most importantly, it’s fast becoming the catalyst for local legislatures to mandate benchmarking to […]