Posts by: JOUM
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 […]
Apartment properties stand as one of the nation’s largest consumers of energy. As owners and operators feel the growing impact on their operations, the ever-evolving world of utility management shows a lot of promise in controlling costs and increasing both asset value and savings.
Energy deregulation
In 1978, new Federal Energy Regulatory Commission […]
Increasing property value through Fannie Mae’s green financing
Whereas the future was once plastics, in the world of multifamily it boils down to cap rate. It drives everything—and low-cost financing drives it.
Financing and its ensuing debt servicing not only sets the world stage (how much do we owe China and what do they […]
Apartment owners and operators love the business of real estate. Creating value. Improving process. Trading assets.
But accounting, producing financial reports and other repetitive functions? Not so much.
The core of utility management is found in the books. And while keeping the books is critical to the value of an operation, the process can […]
Let’s start in the garden. We know that light from LEDs grows plants quicker and healthier than other methods, including natural sunlight. Sunlight contains the full spectrum of colors, giving plants the information needed to grow. Tinkering with this spectrum, which LED lights allow with precision, elicits known and specific responses. Increase the amount of […]
Health is a hot topic these days. From insurance to lifestyle to diet, it’s anyone’s guess as to the best path to a long and healthy life. Still, what if health had just as much to do with where you spend your days as it does with your behavior?
Even though time spent outdoors has […]
Utility expense management for multifamily operators is about managing the balance between recovering resident utility costs and the regulatory requirements (including consumer protection provisions) that exist in different jurisdictions. Utility billing service providers endeavor to mitigate risk while maximizing recovery. Here are some of the considerations we face in today’s legal and regulatory environments and […]
