The Multifamily industry is a significant user of the energy marketplace of all kinds. We buy heating oil, natural gas, and electricity in Billion dollar increments. This year, General Electric closed its last operating incandescent light bulb manufacturing facility. How many incandescent lights are operating at your apartment property?
A standard light bulb (with 20-year-old technology) uses 100 watts of power to generate 100 watts energy output. Compact Fluorescent Lights (CFL) use 26 watts of power to generate 100 watts of energy output. Using CFL can create a 74% reduction in power usage!!!
The X Factor
For property manager’s this can represent an A-ha moment. For professional property management, promoting energy efficiency can be The X Factor in your marketing campaign. Are you marketing in-place efficiencies?
It’s easy to say, well, some of our competitors are sporting Green seals on their front door and LEED designations. This is true. It’s also true that MOST of your direct competitors do not provide ANY proof of energy efficiency.
While it is common around the country for property owners to pay some utilities, what’s important to potential tenants is what THEY pay in utility costs. In a competitive multifamily marketplace, every possible advantage presented can positively impact occupancy.
Residents Buy Benefits, Not Features
Discussing the insulation “R-factor” can be confusing (and boring). However, being able to honestly share the average utility bill in your city/market is $100 while that same bill is only $83 at your property is of direct benefit to your potential customer. So while having an expensive, good looking light fixture in the dining room is great, make sure your resident knows the property only installs energy-saving lighting.
Everyone has brochures, rental applications, information on Rental Insurance. Ho hum. How about providing a full page of energy-saving related devices that your property offers. Here’s a an opening for you to build on:
At Main Street USA Properties, we strive to offer the best energy-efficient apartment homes we can. All of our apartment homes have the following:
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Double-insulated windows to keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer
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Energy-efficient lighting with CFL bulbs
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Energy-Star (TM) Appliances!
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Energy-saving, high-pressure shower heads
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Energy-saving, high pressure sink aerators
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Programmable thermostats allowing you to save energy while away from home
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Extra-thick padding under all carpeted areas
- Winterized doors and windows
Only if they are true can you promote on-property energy saving benefits with sincerity. What energy upgrades were installed on your property in the last five years? Roofing, windows, insulation? New HVAC, water saving devices, or weather strips?
Remember: people buy benefits- not features. Otherwise, we could have devoted the entire post to the energy efficiency provided by caulk!
We have had similar experiences whereas inplementation of water-saving was completely negated by price increases. Still, our utility costs al least remained the same as before via the use of low costs devices like showerheads and aerators. Toilets are another matter. First, you have to find some that actually work. Designs are still in need of improvement. Second, they are expensive regardless. We have went to using “standard” 1.3 gallons tanks with 2″ necks. They arent “low flow” but they will work forever and seldom get clogged like the 1.75″.
Last year I attended the regional meeting of our municipal water supplier because they were again raising the rate. The Commissioner candidly explained that lower usage had resulted in lower revenues that pay for the legacy expenses for mandated improvements. Of course, the lower revenues were result of our strategies to improve the environment by cutting usage that had been successful, but with a cost. There was to be no economic reward, or payback, from our purchase of water-saving appliances and new practices. Of course, here in NYC there is no water shortage. We are blessed with ample supplies into the future.
You might want to inquire if you are not just ‘pissing in the wind’ with your thoughts of water-saving devices, at any cost.
I’ve not tested the “kit”. We have installed new toilets with duel flush and there seems to be no negative commentary coming back from tenants. Because we have not accomplished a full development install, I cannot say we have measurable results in our experience. I’d be pleased to hear from other’s that can point to real savings numbers in either dollars or a reduction in gallons used.
What are your thoughts about an inexpensive water saving device called the quick connect dual flush conversion kit? How would residents perceive converting their existing toilets into dual flush toilets. Would the benefit of saving water compliment the energy saving benefits spoken of in the above article?