Energy Efficiency in the Multifamily Rental Housing Industry: Promoting Informed Investment Decisions in North Carolina
Abstract
To better serve its members’ growing interest in energy efficiency (EE), the Triangle
Apartment Association (TAA) is looking to identify important factors that multifamily
rental housing property owners should consider when deciding to invest in EE. More
specifically, TAA seeks to bridge knowledge gaps that exist in the multifamily rental
housing industry, particularly those related to available EE technology, the potential
for owners to recoup their investments, and policies and programs designed to assist
with the investment process. This report summarizes key findings based on research
conducted over an eight-month period to answer the following question:
What tools should TAA provide its members to make informed decisions about EE capital
investments?
I performed a qualitative study to identify, assess, and suggest relevant EE technology,
methods for property owners to recoup their investments, available programs to assist
with the investment process, and a checklist to help property owners make an informed
investment decision. My approach included three main components: a literature review
of the costs and benefits of particular types of EE technology, an analysis of policies
and programs designed to facilitate the investment process, and expert interviews.
To develop recommendations, I analyzed key themes from my qualitative data through
a two-prong framework representative of two features central to TAA’s mission: education
and advocacy.
My research and analysis conclude with the following recommendations for TAA:
(1) Offer trainings and produce educational materials to help property owners assess
opportunities for EE improvements and to understand which EE policies and programs
will have a meaningful impact on their businesses, and
(2) Collaborate with stakeholders across industries to promote comprehensive policies
that are tailored to meet the unique needs of the multifamily industry.
Type
Master's projectDepartment
The Sanford School of Public PolicyPermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22848Citation
Lowder, Erin (2021). Energy Efficiency in the Multifamily Rental Housing Industry: Promoting Informed Investment
Decisions in North Carolina. Master's project, Duke University. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/22848.More Info
Show full item record
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 United States License.
Rights for Collection: Sanford School Master of Public Policy (MPP) Program Master’s Projects
Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info