Energy Is Sexy
When I was at Prometheus Real Estate Group, I used to have a bumper sticker outside my office door that said, “Energy is Sexy.” It was a slightly “blue” statement for a corporate office,...
Making things better with heat pumps
A dear friend of mine, Art Bailey Jr., whom we lost too young to a heart attack, was one of those individuals who could fix anything mechanical. When he was a boy and his...
Learning humility through EV charging
I must admit openly, I have been spoiled by the simple payback of sustainability. With some energy efficiency upgrades having less than a three-month payback, I can make upgrading to granite look like a...
My goodness, what is THAT?
We have talked these past few weeks about the building and really looking at it in ways that might not have crossed our minds before. However, the million-dollar question when it comes to cutting...
Setting expectations: a Christmas wish
When I was in second grade, a schoolmate friend of mine had a nativity set. While at her house one day, as I admired the little hand painted figurines of camels, shepherds, wise men,...
What will whole building data reveal?
“Don’t be upset by the results you didn’t get for the work you didn’t do.” --Unknown
On January 25, 2024, HUD, the DOE and EPA joined forces in a superhero mashup to sign a joint...
Adapting to the changes
I could be a James Bond villain; I have a white cat. His name is Buddy, and he is a magnificent mouser. He is very well behaved except that Buddy hates car rides (admittedly...
GRESB, like the tide, waits for no man
A friend of mine often uses the phrase “The tide raises all boats” when talking about sustainability. His beautiful focus is that we must work together to make any kind of achievement. That has...
Who’s afraid of the BPS?
I love that my neighborhood leans into Halloween. The witches, ghosts, and skeletons are filling the yards down our block. Some are animatronic/motion activated with limbs stiffly gesturing, saying phrases like, “I will be...
LEED’s bold green overhaul
After more than 10 years, the U.S. Green Building Council (USGBC) is putting out a new LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system.
According to the authors, LEED v5 is more than just...
The time to speak is now
Plato once stated, “Silence is Consent.”
Currently the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is updating their criteria for Rev. 05 of the ENERGY STAR Multifamily New Construction Program (MFNC). You can review the list of changes...
Which is the “worst” is very personal
When it comes to emissions Scopes, which is the worst? I get asked that a lot. I think it is sort of subjective and depends on where you are standing and what “worst” you...
Where the water goes
People have said to me, “we cannot control our property’s water consumption because we cannot affect what the residents do in their units.” Oh, really? According to EPA’s WaterSense program, 26.7% of all indoor water...
Let’s talk about sewer
When Salt-N-Pepa’s song “Let’s talk about sex” came out in August of 1991, I thought it was important. I am not certain that they are related but, within 24 months, the Japanese book, “Everyone...
Consider the value of reclaimed water
It is time we talked about reclamation and the value of the purple pipe in our modern world. Reclamation is not some hippie term involving open toed sandals, your aura, and hallucinogens. Rather reclaimed...
