Practical Solutions to Help Owners Improve Efficiency, Reduce Costs and Sustainability in NYC
Property managers share best practices for “attainable sustainability” at monthly meeting
Savings Through Submetering and LED Lighting
Right: Aubrey Phillibert espouses the virtues of LED lighting
Recognizing that boards may initially be wary of green initiatives fearing high implementation costs, Senior Property Manager Aubrey Phillibert offered advice. “By providing validated financial projections that clearly show the impact a project will have on future operating expenses, this perception can be overcome.”
Phillibert used that strategy to encourage a board to install electric submeters in a complex that had over 1,000 apartments. Since implemented in 2011, electricity use has plummeted by 1.1 million kWh and savings are near $500,000.
Phillibert also discussed his tactics for urging boards to implement LED lighting retrofits. Having initiated several LED projects, he has found boards’ initial concerns generally the same: skepticism of aesthetics, bulb color, and projected cost savings. “After simplifying the project, providing bulb demonstrations, and supplying data to support projected expense and usage reductions, it’s difficult for a board to deny the project,” he said.
His boards recently approved two LED projects: one building is projected to save $40,000 per year with a 39% ROI; another is projected to save $71,000 per year with a 105% ROI.
Haxhiaj also shared creative ways she achieved unit owner buy in for CHP, such as playing a video loop in the lobby showing case studies from similar buildings.
In the end, the decision to add CHP to the project mix resulted in:
When considering energy efficiency projects, she urged her peers to tap the knowledge of FirstService Energy—especially with regard to obtaining NYSERDA and Con Edison incentives—which for this project totaled over $700,000.
The complex was among the first to offer re-fashionNYC textile recycling bins and the first to add e-cycleNYC bins. Efforts that began with “just one phone call” have contributed to recovering a veritable mountain of material for a second life.
Each success fueled Berrios’ pursuit for more. Soon, exterior lights across the complex’s 12 acres were replaced with LED lighting. Staff turned Christmas trees into mulch to nurture the complex’s flower beds. Instead of discarding countless bags of leaves into dumpsters, he salvaged them as compost for a local garden.
A conversion to replace #6 oil with natural gas is underway which is projected to save $350,000 per year in heating costs. In addition, the board voted to install two CHP units. Up next: the installation of a water well to provide an economical solution for filling the complex’s pool.Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability Can Help
Right: Jessica Schreiber called FirstService Residential “one of New York City’s greenest property management companies.”
Jessica Schreiber from the Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability addressed how properties can benefit from the city’s recycling, composting and waste prevention programs, covering:
Savings Through Submetering and LED Lighting
Right: Aubrey Phillibert espouses the virtues of LED lighting
Recognizing that boards may initially be wary of green initiatives fearing high implementation costs, Senior Property Manager Aubrey Phillibert offered advice. “By providing validated financial projections that clearly show the impact a project will have on future operating expenses, this perception can be overcome.”
Phillibert used that strategy to encourage a board to install electric submeters in a complex that had over 1,000 apartments. Since implemented in 2011, electricity use has plummeted by 1.1 million kWh and savings are near $500,000.
Phillibert also discussed his tactics for urging boards to implement LED lighting retrofits. Having initiated several LED projects, he has found boards’ initial concerns generally the same: skepticism of aesthetics, bulb color, and projected cost savings. “After simplifying the project, providing bulb demonstrations, and supplying data to support projected expense and usage reductions, it’s difficult for a board to deny the project,” he said.
His boards recently approved two LED projects: one building is projected to save $40,000 per year with a 39% ROI; another is projected to save $71,000 per year with a 105% ROI.
Sustainability Expo Spurs CHP
Property Manager Rovena Haxhiaj shared lessons learned from overseeing a complex heating and cooling project which entailed replacing two dual fuel boilers/burners and two gas absorption chillers, as well as installing a cogeneration or combined heat and power (CHP) system. While the board was planning to replace the equipment— which was running inefficiently and had passed its useful life—the idea to incorporate CHP was ignited when the board president attended a presentation at FirstService Residential’s 2013 Sustainability Expo.Haxhiaj also shared creative ways she achieved unit owner buy in for CHP, such as playing a video loop in the lobby showing case studies from similar buildings.
In the end, the decision to add CHP to the project mix resulted in:
- A significant reduction in energy costs
- Offsetting purchase/installation costs with NYSERDA rebates
- Backup/emergency power available during outages
- Reduced run time of boilers and chillers.
The Greening of Jamie Towers
General Manager Victor Berrios outlined the array of sustainable achievements he has executed at Jaime Towers, a four building, 620-unit complex. Early on he enlisted the city’s Bureau of Waste Prevention, Reuse and Recycling to implement initiatives aimed at proper recycling—from “chute room makeovers” containing proper signage and bins to workshops for maintenance staff and residents.The complex was among the first to offer re-fashionNYC textile recycling bins and the first to add e-cycleNYC bins. Efforts that began with “just one phone call” have contributed to recovering a veritable mountain of material for a second life.
Each success fueled Berrios’ pursuit for more. Soon, exterior lights across the complex’s 12 acres were replaced with LED lighting. Staff turned Christmas trees into mulch to nurture the complex’s flower beds. Instead of discarding countless bags of leaves into dumpsters, he salvaged them as compost for a local garden.
A conversion to replace #6 oil with natural gas is underway which is projected to save $350,000 per year in heating costs. In addition, the board voted to install two CHP units. Up next: the installation of a water well to provide an economical solution for filling the complex’s pool.
Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability Can Help
Right: Jessica Schreiber called FirstService Residential “one of New York City’s greenest property management companies.”Jessica Schreiber from the Department of Sanitation’s Bureau of Recycling and Sustainability addressed how properties can benefit from the city’s recycling, composting and waste prevention programs, covering:
- re-fashioNYC, a textile recycling program;
- e-cycleNYC, an electronics recycling program;
- Apartment Building Recycling Initiative, a recycling education and outreach program; and
- NYC Organics Collection, the newlyexpanded curbside organic waste collection program.