NH&RA Member and Council for Energy Friendly Affordable Housing Steering Committee member Recap Real Estate Advisors has issued a new study on behalf of Living Cities titled “Multifamily Utility Usage Data: Issues and Opportunities.” The paper examines the major utility usage databases currently in use or being developed for privately-owned multifamily rental housing, both market-rate and affordable. It explores how these databases and associated analytic tools interact (or do not interact) with the simulation models most commonly used to predict multifamily energy usage for retrofits, as well as the intersection of national green building standards and usage data. Finally, we have surveyed opinions on the desirability, feasibility, and key obstacles to creating a more conducive environment for the collection, use, and leveraging of multifamily utility usage data. Read More…