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In Focus: For Property Managers, a Penny Spent is a Penny Earned

By making smart energy-saving investments, property managers will reap long-term savings.

Q2 2017
We’ve all heard the saying “a penny saved is a penny earned.” But when it comes to energy, the truth is closer to “a penny spent is a penny earned.” Real estate and property management can mean big spending, so implementing the best energy management strategies is essential for long-term savings.

As a property manager, you can take the reins on controlling your energy output by making smart energy-saving investments. Here are my four best tips for “spending to save:”

1. Invest in New Appliances
Buying new appliances is a necessary expense for property managers, but it’s not always an easy decision. While it may be tempting to purchase the least expensive option, in the long run those products can end up costing more because of their energy inefficiency. This is an instance where higher spending pays off. Though the costs can seem overwhelming in the short term, investing in the most energy-efficient appliances — particularly those with an Energy Star rating, which use 10–50 percent less energy than standard appliances — will always pay off in the long term.

2. Invest in Energy Management
If you’re not watching your properties’ energy output closely, costs can get steep very quickly. But managing current output is only half the battle — predicting your future energy output is arguably the bigger budgetary challenge. From changes in the market to uncertain weather patterns, having the right tool with the most relevant information available is well worth the investment. There are so many unpredictable factors when it comes to managing properties; energy spending shouldn’t be one of them.

3. Invest in LED
As a property manager, you likely already know the benefits of LED lighting: they are 75 percent more energy efficient, completely weatherproof, and better for the environment and your electricity bills. You may also know LED-retrofitting can be a big up-front expense. But those costs are worth re-examining in a different light. In addition to various tax incentives and rebates, companies that offer LED-retrofitting will often roll the installation fees into the monthly electricity costs, providing a flexible financial option that makes the investment as easy as changing a light bulb — literally!

4. Invest in Retro-Commissioning
Just as cars needs tune-ups from time to time, buildings need assessments to ensure they’re operating at peak efficiency. This process is called retro-commissioning, and it can include a review of anything from HVAC and electrical systems to insulation and structural integrity. Optimizing a building’s framework can reduce long-term operation and energy costs by at least 15 percent, but may also prevent any unexpected issues in the future. Though the investment may vary depending on the extent and type of updates recommended, the long-term benefits are certain to outweigh the costs.

If you manage real estate or multiple properties, you know that spending money is one of the most challenging parts of the job, taking great planning and precision. But you also know that spending smart can put your business ahead of the competition. So, it’s up to you to decide if your business strategy is to save your pennies for a rainy day — or spend your pennies to make it rain.

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