Green/Sustainable Housing

http://umadvisory.org/which-states-have-the-strongest-commitment-to-renewable-power/

Waste Management has a new way to add recycling to multifamily properties that are short on available space. http://umadvisory.org/a-new-idea-for-recycling-in-multifamily/

There are many discrete financial and regulatory events that may prompt an owner to upgrade a Multifamily building. However, in general, there are a few specific events in a Multifamily building’s Lifecycle when it is typically more cost effective, convenient and efficient to make savings and energy improvements. http://umadvisory.org/developing-a-long-term-portfolio-strategy-for-investing-in-energy-efficiency/

Understanding the different ordinances – it can be a jungle out there! There is no National Legislation that requires consistent compliance. Cities and States are driving this issue independently. So the answer is: it depends on where the property is located. http://umadvisory.org/benchmarking-disclosures-what-action-is-needed-now-by-multifamily-owners/

In addition to the common and well-known barriers that inhibit greater investment in energy efficiency technologies (e.g., split incentives, whole building information, initial investment costs and ROI, privacy etc.), there is a class of barriers that has received less attention. http://umadvisory.org/the-hidden-roadblocks-to-energy-efficiency/

Benchmarking the energy performance of a property—that is, measuring it and comparing it to similar properties—requires utility data on energy consumption and load over at least 24 contiguous months . Owners and operators of multifamily properties must have access to this utility data for the whole building in order to benchmark it accurately. However, whole-building […]

If you have even casually looked into energy management services for your portfolio, have you noticed the wide range of opinions and options? The differences are more significant than simply positioning. It is a more difficult (and meaningful) choice than asking “Do I want a Coke? Or Pepsi?” http://umadvisory.org/what-are-the-motivators-in-multifamily-for-energy-management/

In order for a property to be truly energy efficient, the interests of both the owner and residents must be aligned in favor of sustainability. Unfortunately, traditional lease arrangements often do the opposite, and skew the interests of both parties… http://umadvisory.org/does-the-owner-resident-split-incentive-issue-in-multifamily-cause-a-roadblock-to-energy-management/

Household energy consumption is crucial to national energy policy. This article analyzes how the rules covering utility costs in the four major federal housing assistance programs alter landlord and tenant incentives for energy efficiency investment and conservation. We conclude that, relative to market-rate housing, assistance programs provide less incentive to landlords and tenants for energy […]

A utility allowance table for Project-Based Section 8 comparing tenant versus owner paid rules governing utility allowances. Download

Retrofitting existing HUD subsidized, privately owned affordable housing—a literature review of research that demonstrates job creation as a result of greening multifamily buildings. Download

A paper on the use of Department of Energy Weatherization Assistance funds to benefit residents of multifamily housing. Download