Condos & HOAs Can Save Money with Improvements & Updated Technology
Today is Earth Day - so I'm re-posting some information about energy efficiency, waste and water reduction improvements or techniques that have saved building owners money as well as information about the $1.7 million in savings Fannie Mae enjoyed by employing "green" practices.
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Condominium Associations can reduce their energy consumption costs by installing renewable energy devices and are in a position to possibly create a new revenue stream. Condominium Associations are uniquely positioned to take advantage of these rebates, cost saving techniques and possible new revenue streams as a result of Section 718.113(8), Florida Statues, which provides:
"Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or the governing documents of a condominium or a multicondominium association, the board of administration may, without any requirement for approval of the unit owners, install upon or within the common elements or association property solar collectors, clotheslines, or other energy-efficient devices based on renewable resources for the benefit of the unit owners."
HOAs have many options available to reduce annual budgets. There are plenty of examples of the “business case” for simple retrofits and changes in practices.
FBI Field Office, Chicago, Illinois:
Total improvements and modifications lowered operating costs by more than $400,000.00 annually. How many of us would reject a 400% return on an investment?
USAA Realty Company:
Spending $140,000 resulted in $71,000 annual savings.
Adobe Towers / Multiple Hi-Rise Buildings:
Major improvements cost initially over $1 million, but rebates reduced those costs by approximately $300,000 (net cost $700,000) and the annual savings of $900,000 increased the value of the building by over $10 million!
Can your community afford not to reduce its future expenses?
Fannie Mae's data center saves an average of $340,000 per year in operating expenses as a result of the use of energy efficient systems and sustainable landscaping practices.
Can your community benefit from some changes? Some changes are easy and very affordable. Please let us know if your community is interested in an evaluation of the property for this purpose and please share what your community has done to reduce its expenses.
We will post more information concerning Florida-friendly landscaping and water conservation methods to continue examples of how community associations can save money by embracing new ideas.
Although we haven't implemented these ideas, we've investigated:
* Roof top solar panels to heat auxilary hot water tanks to supplement our gas heated water tanks. (This looked promising)
* Roof top solar panels to add electricty to our grid (the payback on this was less promising).
* Replacing fluorescent tubes with LED tubes (requires small electrical change--removal of ballast). This looked promising as LED fluorescent replacemnts is getting more cost effective).
* Replace landscape lighting and common area lighting with CFL bulbs (Done).
* Install solar panels to augment pool heater (Looks promising; however, pools require alot of panels to do the job).
RESPONSE: Excellent ideas, thank you. The technology for solar panels (photovoltaic or PV) is improving every day. We need Florida's legislators to require the utility (FPL, Progress, etc.) to provide a dollar for dollar credit for each unit of energy produced. I also feel we would all benefit from a feed-in tariff that allows the solar energy producers to "sell back" surplus energy into the grid.
Question: Is there any data which shows the savings; along with safety factors for a condo association by changing out old windows and sliders (1963). Looking forward to any information you could provide; or where a unit owner could find such info.
Thx, JoAnn