Going Green

The U.S. apartment market is hotter, more competitive and more popular than ever. With increasing interest in sustainable living, the newest and trendiest urban apartment buildings are also green. An analysis by U.S. apartment search website RENTCafé shows that there are now 13 times more LEED-certified apartments being built per year than 8 years ago,…

Dallas boasts more apartment rentals approved for “green” living than some of the country’s most environmentally conscious cities, including Denver, Austin and San Francisco, according to a study this month from RENTCafe. The study analyzed over 14 million apartment units located in rental buildings of 50 units or more, in 123 U.S. metros from Yardi…

Being kind to Mother Earth is priceless. But, if you insist, real estate can put a price on it-around $880/month in San Francisco these days. Or so says the apartment site RENTCafe, which conducted a survey of apartments in 123 US cities and found that you’ll pay a premium of 24 percent to rent in…

For the first time, a Freddie Mac survey included questions about renter perceptions and concerns about utility costs. McLean, Va.—In a recent survey, Freddie Mac found that U.S. renters are more worried about rising utility bills than rising rents, and that nearly half of renters surveyed say they’re willing to pay more for rentals with…

Energy use sneaks up on you. One day, you think you’re being responsible—flipping off lights, not running the AC excessively, turning the TV off after “Game of Thrones”—and the next day, you’re standing slack-jawed by the mailbox, staring at a power bill that must have been racked up by gnomes living in your closet. Pretty much everyone has accidentally…

Whether they’re environmentalists or not, today’s home buyers appreciate hearing about a home’s geothermal system, solar panels, Energy Star-rated appliances or LEED certification. Home builders and sellers of upgraded homes with “green” features want their prospective buyers to know about these features because they likely spent a good amount of money on them. But do…

It may not be surprising that renters are revealing more of a preference for apartment buildings with sustainable design features, from energy-saving appliances to bike rooms. The real news—according to a new survey from the National Multifamily Housing Council—is that they’re willing to pay extra for them. Renters told NMHC researchers that they’re willing to pay…

Skip the chemicals and get rid of those creepy-crawly houseguests the natural way.  As the weather turns cold, gone are the mosquitoes and flies that bugged us all summer. In their place come the cold-weather critters (think mice and moths) that can wreak havoc on our homes (and closets). Sure, ’tis the season for holiday…

Time was when the idea of sustainability in real estate development and investing was a pretty soft notion. Sure, everyone liked the “idea” of reducing carbon emissions, protecting the environment and exploring alternative energy sources, but few were willing to spend money on it. Today, things are vastly different, and it’s the bottom line that’s talking….

‘Green’ commercial buildings bring in the green for landlords, according to new research by a University of Guelph professor. Environmentally friendly office buildings have higher rents and occupancy rates as well as more satisfied tenants, says the study by Guelph real estate and housing professor Avis Devine. It was published recently in the biannual special…