Email: EnergyScoreCards

EnergyScoreCards
	It is difficult to imagine any market that has yet to be explored for cost savings opportunities. However, many of us wake up in one daily: Multifamily rental properties, also known as apartment buildings. EnergyScoreCards, Minnesota Green Communities, The Center for Sustainable Building Research, and Minnesota Housing,  are in the process of rolling out a new program that will study this very issue. (The Center for Energy and Environment evaluates the project.) According to their website, “[EnergyScoreCards™] program aims to demonstrate that engaging multifamily owners, property managers and tenants in actively managing energy use can measurably reduce utility spending, energy and water consumption and carbon emissions.”

While the program is in a pilot stage here, it borrows from a program established by Bright Power, Inc., an energy consulting firm based in New York. About two years old, EnergyScoreCards™ are catching on for use by both companies and municipalities across the country.

EnergyScoreCards™ is a database that benchmarks the utility and water use of one building against comparable buildings. The pilot program is scheduled to last two years in Minnesota, after which the two funding partners of CenterPoint Energy and Greater Minnesota Housing Fund will sort through the data.

For example, if a water heater is both inefficient and electric, the energy use will add up quickly. But what inspiration, if any, does a property owner have for investing in an efficient appliance?

Additionally, participants in the pilot program have access to a portfolio analysis tool that can tell them what building, if they own several, will give them the best return on investment if made more efficient.

Pam Schmidt, Vice-President of Minneapolis-based Sherman Associates signed on early to the study. “Utility costs are usually the largest single expense for our properties. Benchmarking has enabled us to reduce or control our utility costs. This process of collecting, analyzing, and reviewing energy data performance has enabled us to drive more energy savings across our portfolio of all property types market rate rental, affordable rental, commercial, and hotel,” Schmidt said.

“What’s in it for the building owner is a sense of ‘Where do I stand?’” said Janne Flisrand, the Program Coordinator at Minnesota Green Communities. “By looking at the benchmarking the property owner can tell what to invest in to save money. Is it water or electric? It provides the groundwork for effective utility management in buildings.”

Your Information:

Name

Recipient:

Subject

Please enter the word you see in the image:

visit mn2020.org

Home

About Hindsight

Issues that Matter:

Multimedia

Hindsight Staff

Daily Email

Related Topics:

Email: EnergyScoreCards

Your Information:

Recipient: