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Energy Conservation
Recycling Program for Apartment Buildings
Everybody knows that New York City's apartment buildings generate a whole lot of trash. In fact, according to the New York Department of Sanitation (DSNY), the average New York City resident discards nearly four and a half pounds of waste each day, or more than three-quarters of a ton per year. Multiply that by the number of residents in your building, and the sheer volume of waste gets pretty staggering. Read More
Proactive Winterization Checklist Saves Time and Money
Despite the heavy rains, which kicked off this summer season, the thoughts of
beaches, vacations, barbecues, family picnics and ball games still permeate the
air. The last thing on most people’s minds is the icy chill of winter. However, for those in the know, the summer
months are actually the best time to prepare buildings for the harshness of the
coming winter season.
Read More
Green Building Insurance Practices
One impact of climate change is being felt as natural disasters of increasing frequency and strength are causing extensive damage to homes and businesses. The four hurricanes of 2005—Katrina, Rita, Wilma and Dennis—caused more than $57 billion in insured losses from 3.3 million claims—the largest losses on record for the insurance industry. This sort of loss quickly makes insurers reevaluate the market and its potential risks. One way the insurance industry is dealing with the increased risk due to climate change is to leave the market. Read More
The New York Energy Consumers Council
Many of the organizations mentioned often in the pages of The Cooperator are
extremely high-profile; constantly seeking new members, holding seminars and
social events, meeting with city and state legislators, and holding outreach
programs for the public.
Read More
Beware of Automatic Renewals in Contracts
Fortunately for boards looking to cut costs while still providing needed
services to their buildings, many vendors are advertising bargain basement
prices to fortify their own business. Unfortunately, the risk of getting stuck
with unfavorable contract terms means that many boards will not be able to cash
in on the savings being offered.
Read More
Play Spaces and Children's Programming
Gone are the days when you could give your kids some coloring books or Legos and
expect them to amuse themselves for hours. Nowadays, play spaces and children’s amenities have become crucial aspects in the marketing and sales of New York
City’s residential buildings. As new condo construction has boomed in the city, the
importance of amenities to sway buyers has taken striking prevalence, for
parents and kids alike. If you thought the sauna was fun, get ready for
Nintendo Wii.
Read More
Going Green Can Keep You in the Black
Green is the buzzword of the decade, with everyone from automotive manufacturers to professional sports teams rolling out high-profile environmentally-conscious initiatives. But board members, property managers, shareholders and owners have a duty to look after another kind of green—cash flow. Is it possible to select energy options that positively impact both types of green? Read More
Finding the Right Person for an Important Position
When you rank the key players who keep your building functioning from day to
day, the superintendent should probably be placed close to the top of the list.
A building’s super has a tremendous amount of responsibility, including looking after the
safety and security of residents, managing and interacting with other support
staff, and maintaining the building’s physical systems and structure. It’s a tall order, to say the least.
Read More
Aiming to Make All Buildings 'Green'
It seems that nearly everything is going “green” these days. Whether it’s the special green issue of a popular consumer magazine, an advertisement for a fuel-efficient hybrid car or a push toward environmentally friendly building materials, the message is clear: green is here to stay. But the idea of green building is not new—it’s been the primary mission of the U.S. Green Buildings Council (USGBC) since the organization’s founding in 1993. Read More
A Look at Buildings and Energy Use
The concept of a “carbon footprint” has been widely circulated in the media for the last couple of years—particularly as global warming has become such an urgent topic of discussion for people other than Al Gore. Essentially, a carbon footprint is a representation of the total carbon emissions for a given person, organization, building, or operation. Read More
Conserving Energy
While increasing energy costs are financially painful, they do help motivate all of us to think a little bit more about resources and conservation. Read More
...And What Energy Competition Means to You
Prior to 1999, New Yorkers had to buy their electric and natural gas from the public utility company that serviced their area. Operating as regulated monopolies, the utilities weren't able to offer customers competitive pricing or customized pricing and services options. But all that has changed. Read More
Emerging Faces in Sustainable Development
New Yorkers are obsessed with real estate development. We all pause to stare at the listings in our local real estate office window, and everybody knows the average price of an apartment in Manhattan (currently $1.7 million). Citywide, massive building and construction proposals like the World Trade Center, Brooklyn’s Atlantic Yards and Manhattan’s West Side Rail Yards dominate the news. Read More
Solar Powering Your Building
Sobering studies published last month by the International Energy Association and the National Petroleum Center suggest that the supply of traditional energy sources may not meet demand by 2015, strong evidence yet again that electric costs will continue to climb. Read More
Tracking Building Energy Usage
Recent studies of energy usage in multifamily buildings have revealed that the least efficient buildings use up to seven times the energy of the most efficient—even when those buildings are otherwise similar. Read More
