When sustainability is discussed, there is often a primordial assumption that sustainability initiatives inevitably require capital expenditures: low-flow fixtures, high-efficiency boilers, LED lighting or others.
Those are obvious opportunities with tangible results for improving sustainability, and yes, they do require capital expenditure.
However, as Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB) happily tells us, […]
We have all become acutely aware of respiratory health over the last several months due to COVID-19. According to the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), “Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants.” […]
I keep hearing talk about the new normal. Like those two words actually belong side by side. Do they coexist? Absolutely. Do they describe our future? In my mind, you have to have one or the other; and I vote for new—change. We should reach for something better. Oftentimes, new can simply mean […]
Your leasing office and common areas are clean, but are they disinfected? Welcome to the age of microscopic traffic.
Counting incoming traffic was once done to analyze the quality of lead generation and the effectiveness of marketing channels. Today it’s more often done to manage people who come into the office in order […]
I grew up in unincorporated Fresno, California (the part of Fresno that Fresno didn’t want). It was rural. We were on well water and grew crops. The barn was built in 1912 and the house in 1913. We modernized the house and eventually added a pool.
We didn’t have a lot of money […]
As we work within our universe of utility management, our job descriptions often require us to be at least some part asset manager, regional supervisor, property manager, service manager, project manager, financial analyst, auditor, accountant, sales, marketing, IT, and (increasingly) environmentalist. The cool kids’ word of the day is “sustainability,” and though we […]
One of the most overlooked aspects of property management is maintenance. The maintenance team is on the front lines of the community, interacting with and satisfying residents, and saving money by extending the life of appliances and equipment. It’s a mistake to underestimate their value.
“The service team is the heartbeat of return on investment, […]
With increasing frequency, the term net zero is entering conversations around the design and operation of the built environment. This is an important goal, but what if what we are designing and calling net zero will not be net zero for decades?
The impact of the built environment is well documented and accounts […]
Have you ever watched a Godzilla movie? Just when you think Godzilla is on the ropes and going down, dying, he gets up stronger and more powerful and angrier. Recycling is kind of like that. For those of you who thought recycling was going down, it was going to die when China closed […]
Nationally, apartment starts in 2019 were 116 percent of the 2018 level. Analysts expect a 1 percent increase in new apartment projects in 2020, followed by a 4 percent increase in 2021. Even with continued rent growth in many areas, as well as 22 percent of young adults (ages 25 to 34) delaying […]
