2008 Sept
2008 September Vol. 6, No. 9
Focus on...Energy & the Environment
A Look at Cost-Saving Strategies
It's on the front page of major newspapers almost daily; it’s often the lead story on nightly newscasts; everyone you know is complaining about it. It’s no secret that the price of oil is reaching sky-high numbers and there doesn’t seem to be any relief in sight. With the price of oil climbing so fast, New Jersey HOA energy bills are increasing at just as alarming a pace, and association administrators are looking for ways to cut their energy costs. Read More
The Art or Green Persuasion
It's change on a global scale. Throughout the world and throughout the United States, people are changing the way they think about the environment and how their way of life impacts the planet. With rising energy costs and increasing strains on our energy systems, homeowners in particular are looking at what they can do to reduce their impact on the environment and make the changes necessary to go green wherever possible. In homeowners associations and condo communities throughout New Jersey, people are looking to change their lives, save the planet and protect their pocketbook in myriad ways. Read More
Without Breaking the Bank
Whether the goal is to save the planet or just a few bucks, making and
maintaining a green home is becoming a priority for more and more people. And
while many are quick to point fingers at gas-guzzling automobiles as the main
culprits behind global warming, the U.S. Energy Research and Development
Administration says that residential buildings account for 21 percent of all
carbon emissions in the United States. That makes housing almost as big a
carbon contributor as transportation, which generates about 27 percent of the
country’s harmful emissions.
Read More
Dealing with a Few Bad Apples
Reality television has made an industry out of putting people in challenging or high-stress situations, sitting back, and letting the “unscripted” drama play out. Shows like “The Apprentice” and “Survivor” drew weekly audiences of millions with heavy doses of intrigue, skullduggery, and backstabbing among contestants, who often seem to have been cast purely for their childish, petty, argumentative tendencies. Read More
Alternative Energy Sources
A couple years ago, River Run Condominiums in Northampton, Massachusetts decided
it was time for a change—they wanted to be green. It wasn’t a paint job they needed, but an environmental transformation—an investment that would help defray their monumental heating and cooling costs.
After careful consideration and a consultation with an engineering firm, they
decided to install an alternative thermal solar panel system that would
ultimately reduce their water heating costs and become a better source of
energy from the environment. Read More
Keeping Buildings Dry
Building owners are charged with the constant battle of keeping water out of the
building envelope, but sometimes the water that causes stains, mold and decay
comes from within the building envelope. Consideration to design, materials and use must be given during initial
construction and reconstruction projects. Read More
Soil, Climate and Maintenance are Key
First impressions last—especially when it comes to real estate. Beyond its architecture, construction and natural setting, nothing is as critical to a property’s image from the outside as its landscaping. As a result, owners and managers of buildings and developments can take steps from the start to create a landscape plan with extraordinary impact throughout the seasons. Read More
Q&A: Board Member Owes Maintenance
I’m on the board of my 15-unit condo. One of our long-time board members has been behind on his maintenance payments for nearly two years, and now owes the building almost $7,000 in arrears. About 18 months ago, the board attempted to set up a repayment plan with this owner/board member, and he made a couple of lump-sum payments of a few hundred to a thousand dollars, but that was short-lived. There’s been no attempt to pay down the debt in the last four or five months, and the figure just keeps growing. Read More
Q&A: Removing Old Telephone Wires?
I am a condo owner living next to a building that is primarily rental units. There is a telephone pole in the back corner of the condo property and there are about a dozen wires coming from it to the neighboring building. Being that the neighboring building is primarily rental units, and that most of the tenants are younger and probably strictly use cell phones, I am highly doubtful that any of these phone lines are even live. In the mean time, there are so many, going from the telephone pole to several different locations in the building, with no seeming organization whatsoever, that my and my neighbors’ view is obstructed. Read More
Q&A: Copies of Annual Meeting Minutes
Are shareholders entitled to a copy of the minutes of their annual meetings for their records? Read More
