Multi-family Portfolio Approach Strategies

The following strategies can be incorporated in both rental as well as Home Owner Association scenarios.

Consumption Management

• Installing time of day metering equipment to find the peak demand
• Utility companies have acess to the aggregate energy use data for properties
• May have to go to commissions to compel them to give out aggregate energy use data on the units

Procurement management

Selecting Projects

After completing an energy audit you should have a baseline rate of energy usage to which you can compare future use.  In order to have the best results it is important that you have at least one year of past usage and that the property is stabilized.  The next step is identifying projects that will increase efficiencies and lower the environmental impact of a property.  There are various ways to identify projects.  One strategy when dealing with a multiple property portfolio is to bring together a team from different disciplines or departments within a company to brainstorm ideas.  On-site staff can be an invaluable tool in this area because they are able to identify property specific opportunities.  The more individuals involved in the brainstorming process increases the diversity and out of the box ideas.

Multifamily Audits

There are specific challenges posed by multifamily properties due to the fact that it can be difficult to calculate the total energy use of the building. As addressed by panelists David Kuperberg – CEO Cooper Square Realty, David Diestel – VP operations First Service Residential, and Frederick Golner - Energy Resource Management, Portfolio Approach to Energy Performance in Residential Multifamily Communities at Greenbuild 2009,

Energy Auditing: The First Step

Before beginning any improvements or projects designed at increasing efficiencies, it is imperative to have a basis for comparison. An energy audit is the process of assessing current rates of consumption. Whether dealing with energy, water, or any other variable, having a baseline rate of use offers a way to quantify any subsequent changes. By dividing the amount of change from the base rate, by the original base rate, you are able to find the percentage increase or decrease in usage. This information will ultimately help in determining the return on investment of any project.