Wednesday, December 29, 2010

Senior Housing Company Undergoes Lighting Retrofit

Reported in Environmental Leader

Brookdale Senior Living has completed its nationwide lighting retrofit throughout the company’s 546 senior care communities. The initiative is estimated to save $5 million annually in electric utility costs and deliver a return on investment over about one year. The project also provides energy savings of approximately 75% and gives 30% more light to the residences.

The facilities primarily used products from TCP Inc.’s range of compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulb styles. The lamps have an expected lifespan of 10 to 15 times the incandescent products they replaced. Brookdale was able to participate in utility rebate programs offered around the country, and selected some specific TCP lamps in order to qualify for the rebates, including many GU-24 base lamps.

Brookdale also used the “InstaBright” CFL line from TCP in bathroom vanity applications. Other TCP products that were used were Flat Face Par 20’s, 30’s and 38’s, decorative CFL’s and some LED lamps in night lights and nursing call applications. The installments focused on retrofitting existing fixtures in exit signs, corridors, bathrooms and resident rooms. The project also included signage and outdoor lighting when appropriate.

LED Lighting Retrofits- BLOG Sponsor
 
A good practice for businesses looking to reduce energy expenses is to consider an LED lighting retrofit. Lighting retrofits replace lighting with newer technology such as LED linear lighting to save on energy costs and maintenance costs. Many building experts recommend a lighting retrofit as the first step to reducing energy costs. Redbird LED is an Atlanta based manufacturer and designer of Premium LED lights at value price points. For more information please visit their LED Retrofit website or call ( 678) 733-2473


Whitehead & Associates, an Atlanta-based electrical manufacturer’s representative, specializing in commercial and industrial lighting, executed the lighting retrofit project in each of Brookdale’s communities over a two-year period using Brookdale in-house maintenance teams. About 95% of the lighting fixtures in the communities had a savings opportunity.

“The one common goal we had was to maintain the safest and most comfortable environment for our residents. Ultimately, we were able to accomplish this objective with the right lamp choices, which significantly cut lighting consumption and increased light levels by more than 30 percent,” Jeff Patton, Vice President of Procurement at Brookdale Senior Living.

Monday, November 8, 2010

Camden Property Trust Selects Whirlpool as Exclusive Appliance Provider

Whirlpool Corporation (NYSE: WHR) is now the exclusive appliance provider for Camden Property Trust (NYSE: CPT) to further the real estate company's "Live Green" initiative. Under the agreement, Whirlpool Corporation will provide sustainable Whirlpool brand kitchen and laundry appliances to Camden's new and existing multifamily communities throughout the United States. Through its "Live Green" initiative, Camden residents and employees are focusing on reducing their carbon footprints by conserving resources, using eco-friendly building materials and home products, and making smart choices daily to recycle and save paper.
"Whirlpool Corporation shares our commitment to the environment and making sure residents have the best experience possible with our properties and service," said Steve Hefner, senior vice president of construction and facilities at Camden Property Trust. "The Whirlpool brand meets the high-quality standards we uphold throughout our communities. And, the company's devotion to on-time delivery and proper installation has made successfully managing our projects that much easier."

"From providing recycling bins to its residents – to building with energy-efficient materials, Camden takes their environmental commitment seriously," said Tom Halford, general manager, contract sales and marketing at Whirlpool Corporation. "Camden's decision to specify only Whirlpool Corporation appliances is further proof of their commitment and the sustainability of our appliances."

Whirlpool Corporation's nationally recognized Quality Express® Delivery Service ensures that appliance packages arrive on time and are properly installed, in working order. Through a partnership with SmartWay Transport® – a collaborative program between the Environmental Protection Agency and the freight industry – and resource-efficient and recyclable packaging, Whirlpool Corporation is able to take a greener approach to delivering products. Requiring the use of cleaner-operating and more fuel-efficient motor vehicles, SmartWay Transport® allows Whirlpool Corporation to increase energy efficiency while reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Thursday, October 21, 2010

Behringer Harvard Buys Atlanta Apartment Community

As reported in National Real Estate Investor

Behringer Harvard, the Dallas-based global investment firm, has bought The Reserve at Lavista Walk, an upscale apartment community of 283 units south of Buckhead in Atlanta. The purchase price was not disclosed.The Reserve at Lavista Walk Apartments were completed in late 2008 on a 4.4-acre site with a town center concept designed for pedestrians. The complex provides resort-style pools, a fitness center, media center, and cyber cafe, as well as courtyards with formal gardens.

"The property is a premier multifamily community in Atlanta with condominium-quality finishes and stabilized operations. We believe the property is poised for strong future growth," says Mark Alfieri, Chief Operating Officer of Behringer Harvard Multifamily REIT (real estate investment trust) I.

The unit size varies from studios to three bedrooms with two baths. Some apartments have 11-foot ceilings, and a private patio or balcony. The apartments are located within a three-mile radius of major employers including Emory University, the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Piedmont Healthcare. They also are situated two miles southeast of Lenox Square Mall, a major shopping destination.

Blog Sponsor: Value Energy Solutions


Value Energy Solutions, based in Atlanta, has been working with apartment owners, managers and investors for more than 30 years. They specialize in providing energy efficient lighting products and services to help their customers upgrade their lighting and save on energy bills. Recently they completed a parking garage lighting retrofit project for Gables Midtown in Atlanta. For more information please visit their lighting retrofit website-www.valueenergysolutions.com.

Tuesday, October 12, 2010

Gables Midtown Apartments Converts to Energy Efficient Lighting

Value Energy Solutions recently completed a parking garage lighting retrofit project for the Gables Midtown Apartments in Atlanta, GA. Value Energy Solutions is one of the largest lighting installation and lighting retrofit companies in the nation. For the past 30 years they have provided multifamily owners, developers and property managers with turnkey lighting solutions that exceed customer expectations and reduce lighting and energy costs. Gables Midtown is one of the newest apartment communities in the Morningside/ Ansley Park neighborhood of Atlanta and offers residents numerous amenities including Earthcraft and Energy Star certified apartments.


Gables Midtown management is proud of their focus on energy efficiency and water conservation features. When it was time to upgrade the energy efficiency of their parking garage lighting they contacted Value Energy Solutions. Value Energy Solutions thoroughly reviewed the existing parking garage lighting and the Gables Midtown energy saving goals. Originally, the parking deck lighting was the less energy efficient 175 watt Metal Halide Lights. Value Energy Solutions recommended retrofitting the parking deck with 2-Lamp 54wHO (high output) Vapor Tight Fluorescent lights. Gables Residential selected a 46,000 hour (extended life) rated lamp to maximize their energy savings and reduce lighting maintenance costs.


The projected energy savings for the lighting retrofit project is an impressive 47% and the cost of the lighting upgrade will pay for itself in only 17 months. Originally, Gables Midtown was considering using LED lights in the parking garage but Value Energy Solutions was able to offer a more cost efficient lighting retrofit program using new fluorescent lighting technology. Unlike many lighting companies that offer only one lighting product, Value Energy Solutions works with more than 250 lighting manufactures to provide their customers with the right solution at lower price point.


The Vapor Tite Reflector Series Linear Fluorescent fixtures offered by Value Energy Solutions utilizes T5 Lamping provides energy efficiency and displays equal or superior lumen output. VTR Luminary features include:



• Proven technology, refined to be more efficient than fluorescents of the past

• T5 Lamps—most energy efficient lighting technology in the fluorescent lighting industry for the cost.

• Surface mounted or may be suspended from ceiling

• Reflector series to maximize light disbursement

• Polycarbonate materials which means corrosion, flame and vandal resistant

• Ideal for parking structures, warehouses, breezeways, canopies and schools


About Value Energy Solutions- Value Energy Solutions is one of the largest energy efficient lighting retrofitting companies in the United States. Realizing the need for building owners, property managers and facility engineers to find ways to conserve energy and cut their operating costs, Value Energy Solutions provides improved energy efficient lighting products as replacements for existing higher wattage fixtures. Value Energy Solutions was launched as a new venture by owners Dean Nations and Alan Carlquist as an expansion of their existing company, Value Lighting, Inc., a premier lighting wholesaler and distributor of lighting products.


The Value Energy Solutions lighting retrofit programs are offered for all commercial building types including Parking Garages, Warehouse/Industrial Buildings, Hotels, Retail Chains, Apartments and Office Buildings. For information on Value Energy Solutions please call Chris Owens, Director of Sales at 770.874.2191. Value Energy Solutions is located at 1110 Allgood Industrial Court, Marietta, GA 30066. To request more information please call or email at info@valueenergysolutions.com.


About Gables Residential

With a mission of Taking Care of the Way People Live, Gables Residential has received national recognition for excellence in the management, development, acquisition and construction of luxury multi-family communities in high job growth markets. Gables Residential owns, develops and manages multi-family communities and mixed-use developments in Atlanta, Austin, Dallas, Houston, South Florida, Southern California, and metropolitan Washington, D.C. Additionally, it has third-party management operations in the Chicago, New York, Boston, Phoenix, Central and North Florida, and Washington State markets. Gables Residential enjoys a healthy portfolio with approximately 38,000 apartment homes under management, including a corporate-owned portfolio of 63 stabilized communities comprising approximately 16,000 apartment homes. An additional 2 communities are under development/lease-up, comprising approximately 400 apartment homes. Gables also has the ability to develop another 4,000 apartment homes through its shadow pipeline of undeveloped land owned. For more information please visit www.gables.com.

Wednesday, June 30, 2010

Redbird LED Earns ETL Listing for LED Lighting Products

Atlanta, Georgia (June 28, 2010) – Redbird LED, an Atlanta, GA. firm that specializes in the design, manufacturing and distribution of energy efficient LED linear lighting products for industrial and commercial applications announced today that it has received the ETL Listing Mark for their products. The complete family of Cardinal™ brand linear lights, including a variety of lengths, color temperatures, and wattages are now certified to UL standards 1993, 1598, 1598(B), and 8750.  These lights have an internal power supply and this listing confirms that the Cardinal™ lights are certified for retrofits of existing fluorescent light tubes. Because Cardinal™  linear lights use the same shape and form factor as fluorescent tubes, old fixtures can updated to LED by simply bypassing the ballast and installing Redbird LED linear lights.

The ETL Mark is an independent certification that Redbird LED products meet all national safety requirements. Moreover, the ETL Mark indicates that Redbird LED’s production facility conforms to tight production standards and will be continually validated with regularly scheduled inspections.

Intertek, the organization that provides the ETL Mark, is an internationally recognized testing laboratory recognized by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to test products to the specifications of applicable product safety standards – such as those from
Underwriters Laboratories (UL™) and other testing organizations. With this ETL listing Redbird LED becomes one of the few U.S. based LED companies with products that are certified to UL standards 1993, 1598, 1598(B), and 8750.

“We are excited that our LED linear lighting products have successfully completed the ETL testing at Intertek,” said Jonathan Eppstein, President of Redbird LED. “Having this certification opens the doors to many new opportunities for our LED linear lighting products and provides an important differentiation between our LED linear products and those of our competitors. This is an important step in our growth to become a leading provider of value priced high performance LED lighting.”

About Redbird LED- Redbird LED Inc. is led by an experienced team of senior executives with strong backgrounds in operations, electrical, optical and mechanical engineering. The Redbird LED team includes licensed Professional Engineers (PEs), LEED accredited professionals and LC certified lighting designers, and an operations team with decades of experience in the design and operation of high volume, automated, electronic device manufacturing. Redbird LED is committed to providing its customers quality LED lighting products and systems for both new construction and retrofits of fluorescents, metal halide and incandescent systems.
In addition to manufacturing and selling LED lights and luminaires, Redbird LED provides lighting design services, lighting cost analysis, and has the ability to produce custom luminaires in their in-house fabrication facilities. For more information please call (678) 733-2473 or visit the website www.redbirdled.com. Redbird LED Inc. is located at 1202 Gail Drive NE, Atlanta, GA 30319, in Dekalb County, metropolitan Atlanta.

Monday, March 1, 2010

Emerald Creek Funds Apartment Acquisition



Emerald Creek Capital funded a $2.1 million loan to QR Capital. The proceeds were used to acquire and renovate Highland Forest Apartments in Stone Mountain, Ga.

Located just outside of Atlanta, Highland Forest features one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments and townhomes. A renovation reserve was established at the closing to upgrade the property and increase occupancy. Once stabilization is reached, it is expected that takeout financing can be achieved through either a HUD or Fannie Mae loan.

Opportunities to purchase REO properties at significant discounts represent a growing trend in the commercial real estate market. Formed last year, private equity firm Emerald Creek Capital is capitalizing on the lack of liquidity in today’s credit environment.

They have been actively providing financing to real estate companies who are looking to take advantage of the many discounted deals in the marketplace. Mark Penna, a managing partner at Emerald Creek, explains, “When we launched our fund we knew that eventually there would be great buying opportunities out there; our fund enables firms to take advantage of them.”

Post Properties Announces Quarterly Dividends

Post Properties, Inc. (NYSE: PPS), an Atlanta-based real estate investment trust, today announced quarterly dividends on its common stock of $0.20 per share for the first quarter of 2010. The dividend is payable on April 15, 2010 to all common stock shareholders of record as of March 31, 2010.

Post also announced regular quarterly dividends for its 8.5 percent Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock and its 7 5/8 percent Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock.

On its 8.5 percent Series A Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Post declared a regular quarterly dividend of $1.0625 per share for the first quarter. The dividend is payable on March 31, 2010 to all Series A preferred stock shareholders of record as of March 15, 2010.

On its 7 5/8 percent Series B Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock, Post declared a regular quarterly dividend of $0.47656 per share for the first quarter. The dividend is payable on March 31, 2010 to all Series B preferred stock shareholders of record as of March 15, 2010.

About Post Properties Post Properties, founded more than 38 years ago, is one of the largest developers and operators of upscale multifamily communities in the United States. The Company's mission is delivering superior satisfaction and value to its residents, associates, and investors, with a vision of being the first choice in quality multifamily living. Operating as a real estate investment trust ("REIT"), the Company focuses on developing and managing Post(R) branded resort-style garden and high density urban apartments. In addition, the Company has also developed high-quality condominiums and converted existing apartments to for-sale multifamily communities. Post Properties is headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, and has operations in nine markets across the country.

Post Properties owns 19,863 apartment units in 55 communities, including 1,747 apartment units in five communities held in unconsolidated entities and 1,428 apartment units in four communities currently under construction and/or in lease-up. The Company is also developing and selling 277 luxury for-sale condominium homes in two communities (including 129 units in one community held in an unconsolidated entity) and is completing the sell out of units in two other condominium conversion communities through a taxable REIT subsidiary

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Parking Garage Lighting Source of Energy Savings

Redbird LED, an Atlanta based designer, manufacturer and distributor of LED Tubes launched a website for parking garage owners and managers, www.parkinggarageleds.com. The website provides information on the many benefits of LED Tube lights in a parking garage application. LED Tube lights last much longer than conventional lighting- between 5 and ten years. This dramatically reduces maintenance costs because the lights do not have to be changed as frequently.

Parking garage owners can achieve even bigger savings from the reduced energy costs from operationg LED Tube lights versus conventional lighting. Many retailers, hotels, universities and corporations are saving between 30 and 60 % on their energy bills with the conversion to LED Tube lights.

For more detailed information please visit www.parkinggarageleds.com