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Energy Conservation
The Upside of Energy-Efficient Lighting
Ask anyone to draw a picture of a light bulb, and odds are the sketches are all going to look quite similar—a circular incandescent bulb with the threaded end and tungsten filament that most lamps have always used. You know the ones: when someone gets an idea, it's the bulb that's supposed to appear over their head. But if you want a really good idea, try replacing those old-school bulbs with newer fluorescent ones—you'll not only save money, you'll be helping out the environment by using far less energy as well. Read More
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
In our highly disposable society, how people and communities deal with their trash is of vital importance to both individuals and their communities as a whole. The tri-state area produces a staggering amount of garbage every day, and recycling is one method of lessening the environmental impact of that garbage, as well as lowering costs and improving public health and sanitation. Many co-op and condo boards outline their recycling plans within the governing documents, though to get residents to actively recycle, more proactive steps often need to be taken. Read More
Eco-Friendly Pest Control
Jena Ball couldn't sleep—the noise was deafening and keeping her awake night after night. The racket wasn't coming from the next door neighbors, but instead was emanating from inside her condo wall. "It was bizarre," says Ball. Read More
Winterizing HOA Building Systems
Winterizing a condo or co-op is important every year, but with energy prices soaring, it's going to be especially important to keep your buildings protected from the elements—and your equipment running at its best—as the cold months approach in 2005. The nearly $3 a gallon we're paying at the gas pump is going to translate into higher energy costs this winter. Read More
Lean and Green
CHP (combined heat and power) is a marriage of electric generation and thermal
power—the use of an engine, usually gas-fueled, to simultaneously generate electricity
and heat. It can be done on a grand scale, as in manufacturing, hospitals and
residential districts—or less massively, in condominium developments. As successive generations of
systems emerge, CHP has become a leading option for lowering condo expenses.
CHP generators are small—lean, green, and smart—but they take a big whack out of energy costs.
Read More
Keeping Your Community Healthy
Board members and association managers have a lot on their plates—maintenance issues, resident complaints, construction projects, and the hundred
little tasks that make up the administration and upkeep of a multifamily
residential building or development. With all that going on, it's easy to
forget or overlook issues that may not necessarily be visible to the naked eye.
Something like indoor air quality often doesn't register as a priority until it
becomes a problem, and even then it can be tough to pinpoint the root of the
issue.
Read More
Green Building Certification is Growing in Popularity
Real estate professionals, developers and builders are all reporting the same
thing: today’s homebuyers who are looking for maximum value are asking for more than granite
countertops and hardwood floors. They want energy savings and green buildings.
Read More
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
Understanding U.S. Green Building Standards
It seems that suddenly, everyone's talking about green buildings and green construction. But it's really not a new concept. Back in the 1970s and '80s, after the energy crisis made us all aware of the high cost of electricity, energy-efficient building technology, such as compact fluorescent lights, energy-efficient lighting ballasts and air conditioners that cycled on and off, came into being. Still, the original focus was on office buildings and institutions such as universities and hospitals, not homes. Read More
New Jersey's Deregulated Energy Industry
It's been said that choice is the ultimate luxury. Since 1999, New Jersey businesses and residents have had the luxury of choosing which utility company from which to purchase gas, electricity, and heating fuel; but with choice often comes challenge. Along with their new options and the predicted benefits of a more competitive marketplace, New Jersey residents have also had to deal with the changes and questions raised by the state government's deregulation of energy providers. Read More
