Energy Summit Re-enforces that Multifamily Wins through Utility Management

The RealPage Energy Summit 2020 covered the hard facts about utilities and sustainability while leaving a lot to the imagination about one of property management’s increasingly discussed topics. For two days in Richardson, Texas, some of the rental housing industry’s utility management and sustainability experts collaborated on controlling utility and energy costs with an eye on how current technologies have the potential of creating greater efficiencies and cleaner living.  But it just had to get a little trashy along the way. While talking about trash management alternatives, recognized sustainability expert Mary Nitschke drew the fine line between wishful and responsible recycling, noting that an apartment community can generate 32.5 cubic yards of trash per month. She lamented why most community maps don’t at the very least show residents where to recycle. “Nobody ever puts on it where are recycling trash stations are,” she said, before signing off as the self-proclaimed Dumpster Queen. “Why wouldn’t we use that to help with those discussions with our residents to promote those diversions to reduce their costs, reduce our costs to save the environment. “It’s a win, win, win.” The message resonated beyond just trash talk and aptly described how conscious efforts to conserve and manage the necessary services for living in apartments (or anywhere, for that matter) have great benefit.   Heading off utility expense increases through innovation In the opening session, RealPage Vice President Jason Lindwall got fast acknowledgment from attendees that utility expenses are the third highest operating expense in apartment operations. It won’t be long before it’s No. 2, he said. Inside and outside factors – including rent control and waste – are threatening higher water, electric and gas costs at a time when energy conservation is on the minds of renters. The answer is w...