Water represents a significant cost in operating multifamily housing since water use fees are typically included in rental rates. Residents are free to consume as much as they wish without additional charges. In addition to the usage issue, costs are likely to increase as groundwater and surface water reserves dwindle, energy costs rise, and treatment requirements become more stringent. While it may be difficult to persuade tenants to conserve water, physical modifications can be made to decrease resident consumption. To help multifamily property owners, managers, and contractors implement water conservation measures, HUD and the Partnership for Advancing Technology in Housing (PATH) published two guides, "Overview of Retrofit Strategies: A Guide for Apartment Owners and Managers" and "Retrofitting Apartment Buildings to Conserve Water: A Guide for Managers, Engineers, and Contractors." Lowering water use in existing multifamily properties presents special challenges. Extensive renovation, which could include many conservation measures, may not be economically viable for some properties. Retrofit strategies, on the other hand, are less invasive and may be better suited. The first guide, "Overview of Retrofit Strategies: A Guide for Apartment Owners and Managers," uses layman's terms to explain water conservation techniques that property managers may use. Approaches require modest investment and minimal construction. The guide provides an overview of how to select a retrofit strategy and the costs and benefits of various water conservation measures. (See example table, Estimated Water Savings and Costs for Quick Pay-Back Strategies.) The combination of user-friendly language and cost/benefit analyses allows owners and managers to select the most appropriate conservation measures for their particular situations. "Retrofitting Apartment Buildings to Conserve Water: A Guide for Managers, Engineers, and Contractors," contains information to help engineers and contactors evaluate conditions and select water conservation strategies appropriate for different types of property. The guide describes planning water conservation strategies in six steps:
Individual chapters describe the steps in detail, and appendices provide additional information such as example strategies. Most of the water conservation approaches described in these guides may be applied independently or using multiple approaches as part of more comprehensive programs. These guides can help multifamily property owners and managers balance the costs of implementing conservation measures with the need to provide affordable housing for America's families. Order "Overview of Retrofit Strategies: A Guide for Apartment Owners and Managers" and "Retrofitting Apartment Buildings to Conserve Water: A Guide for Managers, Engineers, and Contractors" for $5 each. Or both guides can be downloaded from the HUD USER Web site at www.huduser.gov.
|
