Apartment TechnologyRecent Headline News
Saturday October 17, 2009 -- Weatherization Tip #11 -- Heat loss through the ceiling and walls in your home could be an issue if the insulation levels are less than the recommended minimum. Read more ...
Don't forget the candy!!! Halloween is just TWO WEEKS away!
Friday October 16, 2009 -- HUD has launched a new campaign aimed at "increasing [the] hiring of low-income individuals and public housing residents by state and local governments that receive HUD funds." Read more ...
Thursday October 15, 2009 -- According to Multi-Housing News, California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed AB 920 into law this past weekend. The law will "offer incentives to both households and businesses to add rooftop solar power systems." Read more ...
Wednesday October 14, 2009 -- A recent study has found that Green roofs help to offset the adverse effects of global warming. Could this innovation be coming to an apartment highrise or city building near you? Read more ...
Tuesday October 13, 2009 -- The "property management industry has experienced much technological innovation." Now, payment (rent) processing is experiencing a new innovation that is focused, in part, on resident retention. Read more ...
Monday Octoer 12, 2009 -- AC/C TECH is now on Twitter! Sign up to follow us and receive Tweets about industry newsbits, school related info and more!
What is the most common mistake that leads to tenant debt? Incomplete applications. To fill vacancies, managers oftentimes miss red flags. What are some of the other mistakes and what can be done to reduce and recover debt? Read more ...
Sunday October 11, 2009 -- The Community Preservation Corporation (CPC) has officially launched its partnership to "provide $1 billion in construction and mortgage loans to multifamily housing owners for energy-efficient upgrades and property retrofits." Read more ...
Saturday October 10, 2009 -- There's been a surprising turnaround in the Manhattan apartment market. A soaring increase in sales from the second to third quarter. Read more ...
Friday October 9, 2009 -- The economic downturn has undoubtedly hurt the apartment industry with increased vacancies and negative or stagnant rent growth. Now it appears that benefits to the industry's professionals is also hard hit. Read more ...
Thursday October 8, 2009 -- Ever considered using a battery made from salt and pepper? Sweden scientists have "created a salt and pepper battery that can hold up to one volt of electricity." Future component for biodegradable sensors? Read more ...
Wednesday October 7, 2009 -- President Obama signed an executive order on Monday which asks "all agencies to set the first-ever targets for reducing climate-altering pollution from government buildings, fleets and federal workers' commutes." The agencies have 90 days to submit their plans to the White House. So what else is involved with this executive order? Read more ...
Tuesday October 6, 2009 -- Considering all electronics have an environmental impact of some sort, there is now the Energy Star TV Standard. If recently proposed requirements (penned by the California Energy Commission) are adopted, "starting in 2011, retailers in the state [California] would be able to sell only TVs that meet the guidelines of the Energy Star program." Could this soon affect your state? Read more ...
Monday October 5, 2009 -- With the economic climate still unstable, property managers' top concerns are the increase in number of vacancies and job loss. One leasing strategy being put forth is the "acceptance of the Insurent Lease Guaranty Program, the first and only institutional guarantor of residential leases." Read more ...
Sunday October 4, 2009 -- The Community Preservation Corp has unveiled a new partnership which aims to "provide $1 billion in funding for energy efficient upgrades and green retrofits to multifamily properties." Check out this blurb.
Saturday October 3, 2009 -- According to the Knight Commission on the Information Needs of Communities in a Democracy, making sure everyone in the U.S. has online access is of the utmost importance. It should be addressed with the same urgency as the Eisenhower administration gave to building an interstate highway system a half-century ago. Read more ...
Friday October 2, 2009 -- HUD has awarded $95 million in competitive grants that will be used "to make necessary improvements to public housing communities [across the country] that will specifically address the needs of seniors and persons with disabilities." Read more ...
Thursday October 1, 2009 -- Influential leaders in the energy industry are pushing heavily for the passage of climate legislation -- particularly Exelon CEO John Rowe who states that "if legislation doesn't deal with climate change the EPA will." Also, Rowe "announced that the nation’s largest utility would not be renewing its membership with the US Chamber of Commerce because of the Chamber of Commerce’s opposition to climate legislation." Read more ...
Wednesday September 30, 2009 -- Though many are looking for energy efficiency and Green-ness, according to a recent survey by the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) prospective buyers seem to be unwilling to spend more than an additional 2% for the much sought after efficiency and eco-friendliness. Read more ...
Amory Lovins of the Rocky Mountain Institute says that the Greening of our economoy isn't something to be dreaded ... he is proving that energy efficiency without a reliance on fossil fuels is possible and profitable. Read more ...
Tuesday September 29, 2009 -- California is set to fund the largest ($3 billion) energy efficiency plan in the U.S. "[T]he program aims to cut energy use by 20 percent for up to 130,000 homes in the state by 2012." Read more ...
Monday September 28, 2009 -- Current trends indicate that renters are focusing more on amenities that save them money. Energy saving appliances and flexible leases are just a couple of amenities renters are seeking. Read more ...
Sunday September 27, 2009 -- Ahead of its October 22 release of Windows 7, Microsoft has filed five lawsuits against individuals over "maladvertisements" (malicious ads that redirect users to sites offering rogue, security software which, in turn, infect computers with damaging software). Read more ...
Saturday September 26, 2009 -- Not only are we seeking ways to reduce our impact on the environment, but an agency, known as GIT Satellite, is seeking ideas for reducing "orbiting junk" in space. From spacecraft collisions to the intentional destruction of defunct equipment, there are plenty of pieces of "orbiting junk" to be concerned about. After all, what goes up must come down. Once proposed solution? Water. Read more ...
Friday September 25, 2009 -- The Global Climate Network released a report today ("Creating Opportunity") that concludes if we create markets for low-carbon technolgies they will aid with creating new job opportunities that will outnumber those jobs lost in the "carbon-intensive sectors." Essentially, if we "worked to avoid climate change we'd create 10 million new jobs by 2020 ... " Read more ...
Thursday September 24, 2009 -- 3-D movies are making a comeback. Considering the newfound popularity, Sony and Panasonic recently announced a "new advanced generation of 3-D TV products that should be available within the next year in the United States." However, the technology has come a long way since the 1950s "House of Wax." Read more ...
Wednesday September 23, 2009 -- According to a recent research findings, "operating expenses increased for most federally subsidized multifamily housing properties." Additionally, there were several communities which experienced an increase in "both expenses and rents from 2007 to 2008." Read more ...
Tuesday September 22, 2009 -- Alongside up and coming smart home technologies, new forms of entertainment are on the rise too. In the past, holography has been great -- so long as you didn't try to touch the image. Now, Japanese scientists are working on technology that "adds the sensation of touch to holograms." Read more ...
Monday September 21, 2009 -- Long abandoned mercury mines are causing major environmental issues, including "water bubbling in a stream" that "runs Day-Glo Orange and is devoid of life." And, unfortunately, attempts to clean up some of the mines has done little to contain the contamination. Read more ...
Weatheriztion Tips #9 and 10 -- "Air conditioners work more efficiently when shaded by trees or shrubs. However, make sure trees and shrubs do not block the airflow.
By planting deciduous trees on the west and south sides of your yard, you can shade your home from sunlight during the hottest parts of the day. Because these trees lose their leaves in the fall, winter sunlight will reach the building, helping to keep it warm." -- Indiana Office of Utility Consumer Counselor (www.in.gov/oucc)
Sunday September 20, 2009 -- New advances in voice recognition software are paving the way for "speech-to-text" software for phones. However, its use is NOT for drivers! Read more ...
Saturday September 19, 2009 -- According to recent reports, building starts and housing permits for August were at their highest level all year. The multifamily segment led the way with an increase of 1.5% (translating to approximately 598,000 units). On the flip side, single-family home starts dropped by 3%. Read more ...
Friday September 18, 2009 -- Here's something that few know ... electricity DOES grow on trees!! Researchers have recently discovered that big leaf maple trees produce a steady "voltage of up to a few hundred millivolts." Read more ...
Thursday September 17, 2009 -- According to the U.S. Geological Survey, due to the amount of road salt used during the winter months, high concentrations of chloride have been found in urban streams and, in turn, ground and, in some instances, well water. High chloride levels adversely affect plant growth, biodiversity and organisms that live in the affected areas. Read more ...
Wednesday September 16, 2009 -- International interest in U.S. real estate has been on the decline as a result of the recession and economic woes. According to a recent report, the U.S. didn't even make the top 5 list of "countries of origin for foreign buyers." Read more ...
Tuesday September 15, 2009 -- New clean energy technologies are being pieced together across the U.S. demonstrating Green energy alternatives in action. The "quilt of different technologies" further illustrates how not a single technology will reign supreme, but it will take all sources working together for a successful Green economy. Read more ...
Monday September 14, 2009 -- Lead-based paint is an ever-present hazard. Recently, owners of federally assisted multifamily properties in New York failed to disclose information related to lead-based clean-up and restoration work conducted on over 500 apartment units. Now the owners must pay a substantail fine in the thousands of dollars. Read more ...
Sunday September 13, 2009 -- The father of the Green revolution Norman Borlaug, an agricultural scientist, has died at the age of 95.
Satruday September 12, 2009 -- America's Green building movement is maintaining its momentum (i.e.: weatherization, new Green construction, energy saving guidelines, etc ...). But is it enough? According to the chairman of the steering committee for Greenbuild 2009, we are still lagging behind our European counterparts. What more should be done? Bringing buildings to a "low energy environment" and encouraging sustainability are on the agenda. Read more ...
Friday September 11, 2009 -- Do you use too much energy? Check out this article that addresses the "8 Signs" and how to amend your ways. Read more ...
Thursday September 10, 2009 -- When posting things on the net, be sure to give credit where credit is due. There are eyes watching what you post. Their job? To report instances of plagiarism. Read more ...
Weatherization Tip #8 -- "Caulk and seal air leaks where plumbing, ducting, or electrical wiring penetrates through exterior walls, floors, ceilings, and soffits over cabinets." And, "[i]nstall rubber gaskets behind outlet and switch plates on exterior walls." -- doityourself.com
Wednesday September 9, 2009 -- Fifteen public housing authorities across the U.S. will receive their share of $96 million in grants recently awarded by HUD. As part of the Recovery Act (2009), the funds are to be used for community improvements and create job growth. Read more ...
Tuesday September 8, 2009 -- The new version of Windows Mobile (Windows Mobile 6.5) is set for worldwide release October 6th.
Sunday September 6, 2009 -- IN OBSERVANCE OF LABOR DAY, LOOK FOR OUR NEXT POST ON TUESDAY MORNING. HAVE A RELAXING HOLIDAY AND BE SAFE!
Saturday September 5, 2009 -- As a bit of odd news, Florida boaters have been asked to play a bit of "Where's Waldo" this holiday weekend. It appears that Waldo, a marine robot, mysteriously disappeared while on a mission to detect red tide, a toxic algae, on Monday. Read more ...
Friday September 4, 2009 -- Instead of having several cameras, sensors and other equipment to control various parts of a smart home, how about having a single device that tracks your "noise" and controls everything based on your movement and need? The trick is training a computer to distinguish between the various patterns of "noise." Read more ...
Weatherization Tip #7 -- "For new construction, reduce exterior wall leaks by either installing house wrap, taping the joints of exterior sheathing, or comprehensively caulking and sealing the exterior walls." -- energybuilder.com
Thursday September 3, 2009 -- Portland, Oregon's Twelve West building can boast that its is "the first U.S. installation of a wind turbine array on a high-rise." The building also boasts other eco-friendly assets.
Wednesday September 2, 2009 -- The spinning blades of turbines on wind farms have been mistaken for what? Yep, for a tornado on Dopplar. Even sometimes as a violent storm. Read more ...
Tuesday September 1, 2009 -- "SmartSupports" (assistive technologies) made its debut recently in the United States with the Charles SmartHome in Boulder, Colorado. It is the first residential care facility fully equipped with smart home technology. It will serve as a model for other residential facilities that will "enhance [the] lives and independence" of its residents. Read more ...