“Sue” is a retired professional who is well-to-do, rarely eats at home and has lived in her condo for decades. While everything seems perfect from the outside, Sue is the keeper of a dirty little secret. When the unit above he…
As the ideas of energy efficiency and “green” buildings keep growing, associations and managers often want to know which energy-efficient improvements make the most sense for their buildings—it might be compact fluorescent lights, energy…
There are many reasons for “going green” in a residential community, starting with the goal of shrinking the carbon footprint and decreasing dependence on fossil fuels. But the real reason a condominium complex or HOA seeks sustainable …
Utility submetering is the implementation of a system that allows a condominium association or other multi-tenant property to bill tenants for individual measured utility usage by making use of individual water, gas, or electricity met…
CHP (combined heat and power) is a marriage of electric generation and thermal power—the use of an engine, usually gas-fueled, to simultaneously generate electricity and heat. It can be done on a grand scale, as in manufacturing, hospit…
During the 1940s, Willie Sutton developed a lucrative niche of robbing banks. During his unapproved withdrawals, he sometimes made use of ingenious disguises. Those were the days when grand larceny took place in a bank lobby rather tha…
Congratulations. You have been chosen to help lead your community on a small governing body that will determine the major policy decisions affecting everyone who lives in your community. From finances to rules enforcement to selection …
Imagine the panic that sets in when a home is lost or damaged. Now imagine navigating through that fear alone. Whether it’s fire or flooding or the violent effects of a storm, anything that damages or destroys a home will have a lasting…