by | October 18, 2011

LEED: Green Apartment Buidling and Design

Have you seen an apartment claiming they were “LEED Certified” or “LEED Silver”? Not sure what that means?

L.E.E.D. stands for Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design and was designed as a framework for builders to build efficient green commercial, multifamily residential and single family residential construction projects by the U.S. Green Building Council. The system largely revolves around how energy is used within the design and the selection of building materials that have the lowest possible impact on the environment.

The systems first iteration debuted in 1998 and has gone through several versions since culminating in the latest, LEED-NCv3.0. Unfortunately the LEED system was designed for the types of buildings built most often in the United States and Canada; Single Family Homes and Commercial Buildings. LEED was designed to certify existing buildings (core&shell, interior design, etc..) along with new construction projects. However, apartment buildings or “multifamily” buildings were not given their own set of guidelines or framework to go off of. That means that apartment, condo, townhome and loft buildings fall into either one of several LEED  (commercial) frameworks or the LEED for Homes certification processes.

According to industry insiders the U.S. Green Building Council appears to base this on the height and intent of the building. So townhomes or upto 3 story apartment buildings would likely be certified under the “LEED for Homes” program. Any multifamily buildings taller than that would be certified under the LEED system designed for commercial building projects (such as LEED for New Construction). Since the projects are typically a smaller scale,the LEED for Homes process requires more points to achieve each level and therefore could be considered more difficult. So a 4 story LEED Gold building may not be as eco-friendly as a 1 story LEED for Homes silver building.

No matter what system the building is certified under the ranking system is based on points earned for energy efficiency and material selection. The system ranks projects in 4 levels from lowest to highest:

  • Certified
  • Silver
  • Gold
  • Platinum
green apartment building. the savoye in addison tx is a LEED silver building

Savoye at Vitruvian Park in Addison Texas was awarded LEED Silver for new construction (more than 3 stories)

In all of the types of Rankings “Certified” is fairly easy to achieve. If you’re hunting for an apartment that is environmentally conscious the most passionate would be LEED Platinum, however, currently most apartment communities we’ve seen approved appear to be getting rated LEED Certified and LEED Silver.

Here are the rankings (points awarded) for LEED for New Construction, used on apartment buildings 4 stories and higher:

  • Certified  40–49 points
  • Silver  50–59 points
  • Gold  60–79 points
  • Platinum  80-100 points

Here are the rankings (points awarded) for LEED for Homes, used on apartment buildings below 4 stories:

  • Certified  45–49 points
  • Silver  60–74 points
  • Gold  75–89 points
  • Platinum  90 – 136 points

So does LEED mean an apartment or other multifamily building is environmentally friendly? LEED is a set of guidelines and rewards those builders and developers that take the time to document and allow the review of their building and reconstruction designs. It also requires a fee for a building to be evaluated and awarded a LEED level. This should serve as reassurances that the owner(s) of the building have the tenant’s and the environment’s best interest in mind. Consumer adopting of the LEED guidelines and will likely lead (pun intended) to more developers applying for their projects to be evaluated on the LEED system that fits their design best and result in reduction of environmental impact worldwide .

Get more information at the U.S. Green Building Council’s website: http://www.usgbc.org/

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by | June 8, 2011

How to Have an Apartment Yard Sale

Odds are you’ve got too much stuff; everybody ends up having the same problem at one time or another. Fortunately there are plenty of easy and effective ways to get rid of old and unwanted items; probably the most popular and most common method is the traditional garage or yard sale. At first this may seem a bit odd, an apartment yard sale seems like a difficult thing to organize, but believe it or not there are quite a few easy ways to hold a successful apartment yard sale

If you aren’t sure where to start then you should begin by finding out about yard sales in your area or in your apartment community. Many apartment communities host community wide yard sales in which all residents are encouraged to participate; these are the best possible scenario because there will often be plenty of advertising for the event and there will always be lots of people. Talk to your landlord and other residents to see if anyone knows anything about a community wide apartment yard sale; if you find out that there isn’t already a planned yard sale then you could take this opportunity to plan one for the community if you wish.

A second good option for apartment yard sales is to simply plan and execute your own yard sale. This might be more work because there won’t be anyone else to spread the word but if you’re in a good location this could prove to be just as effective as a community wide yard sale. To begin with make sure you can get permission from your landlord or apartment complex management; this is a critical step because it’s never a good thing to violate community rules. Once you’ve got everything approved then it really all just comes down to planning and executing your apartment yard sale.

As always the date and time are very important so try to find a date that doesn’t conflict with any major events or holidays in your area; this will help maximize the number of people you should expect at your apartment yard sale. Once all of these details are set you should start advertising and promoting your yard sale. Obviously the most popular advertising methods include signs and flyers posted all around the area to draw attention though recently technology has begun to have an impact on yard sales as well. You might want to consider posting your yard sale on sites like Craigslist as a way to draw in additional shoppers as well.

Finally you need to actually decide what you will be selling in your yard sale. Obviously the plan is to sell extra or unneeded items you’ve accumulated in your apartment so find any of these items and begin to set them aside so you can begin to price everything. In order to reduce work on the day of your apartment yard sale make sure everything has a price clearly marked on it; it might just be a suggested price but having some sort of dollar amount on each of your items will definitely help you make some sales.

The last thing to do is actually execute the sale. This should be the easy part if you properly planned and organized the entire event. Make sure you’re ready to spend basically all day at your yard sale; there is no sense in ending early because that will just turn away potential shoppers. Also make sure to have plenty of cash available to make change if someone wants to buy an item. And finally, make sure you remember the purpose behind your apartment yard sale; obviously you want to make some money but in the end the purpose might be to just clean out your apartment, if this is the case then don’t hesitate to take less money than you were originally asking for some of your items.

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by | April 19, 2011

Best Apartment Pets

Millions of people have pets for many different reasons though most have pets simply for the companionship. Obviously some animals are much better companions than others but depending on where you live it could be difficult to take care of certain types of pets. The two most obvious pets people choose are dogs and cats, though there are plenty of other pets which are great for apartment living.

Nearly all apartments are very well suited to owning a pet. The only real exception would be if your landlord doesn’t allow pets or if there simply isn’t enough space for a larger pet. This guide will help you figure out what type of pet your apartment is best suited for. To begin with you need to realize that space will play a major role in deciding on a pet; the amount of outdoor space you have access to is also very important depending on what type of pet you have.

If you live in a very small apartment then obviously a small pet is going to be your best option. Small dogs and small cats are usually ok for a small apartment though if you don’t have any space outdoors or any parks nearby it probably isn’t a great idea to get a dog. The exact size of your apartment isn’t necessarily directly related to how large of a dog or other pet you can have, however it can be used as a along with how much furniture you have as a guide post to the size of pet you should limit yourself too. If you are wanting to buy a pet and are concerned with the space limitations of your apartment first setup all of your furniture and make sure that you are comfortable. Now the space left over will be shared by you and your pet, so make sure once the pet is added that the apartment will still be comfortable to live in.

If you have a larger apartment then obviously the number of pets you have to choose from increases as well. Once again it is important to have access to outdoor space if you are hoping to get a dog but otherwise nearly any pet should be ok. Any medium sized dog or smaller will have absolutely no trouble living in a larger apartment as long as you take them outside as often as possible. As with a small apartment cats are always a good pet option as well because basically any apartment will have more than enough space for a cat or two.

The thing most people overlook is that there are quite a few other pets that are great for apartment living. The variety of small pets available is astonishing and many of them can be great companions. Pets such as small exotic pets (reptiles, ferrets, and lizards), pet birds, and even fish do great in an apartment because they simply don’t require nearly as much space as larger pets though there are some drawbacks to them as well.

Small exotic animals such as guinea pigs, mice, and lizards are good pets for apartments simply because of their small size. The only complaint many people have about them is that they can be difficult to keep clean and they can often have a big impact on the apartment’s appearance due to the cages required to keep them safe. One other problem with these types of pets is that they generally come with a high startup cost; not only are these pets often expensive but all of the accessories and other necessary items can also become quite costly. These types of pets are generally quite common with children but if you are just looking for a simple, small pet then they are a great option.

Birds are a popular apartment pet choice because they are very unique and can be quite interesting. Just like any other pet there are certain types that you should avoid though; certain species of birds are not well suited to live in an apartment for a variety of reasons. The biggest concern is noise; some birds are naturally very loud and unless trained properly they will be loud all the time. Obviously noise is a big issue in an apartment when you have so many neighbors nearby but as long as you take the proper steps to make sure your new pet bird stays quiet it could make a great apartment pet. As with other pets, pet birds also come with a startup cost that many people overlook; besides the bird purchase you will have to buy various other accessories to take care of your new pet.

A final type of pet that is actually quite popular in all apartments is fish. Fish are very small and as a result they don’t really require much space, just a tank. Depending on the size of fish tank you choose you can also have numerous fish without taking up any extra space or any extra responsibility. Fish are generally quite serene and relaxing to be around although they obviously do not provide the companionship many people search for in an apartment pet. Fish are also not too difficult to care for once you have properly established their environment in the tank; the difficult part however is getting their environment properly established. Obviously a fish tank is not going to come cheap in most cases and depending on the type fish you are looking for the startup cost can be quite expensive. If you’re not ready to spend $300 to $400 on a basic fish tank setup then fish are probably not a good choice for you.

Overall there really are quite a few options available when looking for the best pets for apartment living. Before you immediately decide to get something common like a dog or cat why not consider something smaller or more exotic. You might be surprised by some of the options available and many of them will even require less care and maintenance than larger pets such as dogs. When considering a new pet always make sure to consider the cost of the pet as well as everything that will be needed along with it; certain pets require all sorts of accessories and possibly a tank or cage while others require much less so the price for each pet car vary quite a bit based on this.

In the end the biggest thing to remember is that you must be responsible for your new pet. Make sure you completely understand how to care for your new pet before purchasing it. It is also a good idea to make sure your landlord or apartment complex allows pets, most do but without checking you run the risk of possibly being evicted.

Find pet friendly apartments at the Humane Society

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by | March 30, 2011

Find an Apartment in Dallas

Dallas is a great city with a booming job market, unique culture and lots of things to do. Are you new to the area and looking for an apartment in Dallas? Here are some quick tips to help in your selection of an apartment to call home.

  • What are you looking for?

Odds are you are very picky about what you like and what you don’t like; fortunately this comes in very handy when searching for an apartment. The first step to finding your new apartment is to take all of the things you care about and make a list. Determine what features, amenities, and other things you must have in an apartment; it is equally important to keep in mind things you absolutely do not want from your new home.

 

  • Determine a Budget

If you don’t know what to look for in an apartment then it may be slightly more difficult to find a new apartment in Dallas. The first thing most people consider is how much the monthly rent will cost. Depending on exactly which part of Dallas you are looking at you will find quite a few different price ranges to choose from. When determining your maximum budget always remember that you may have to pay for extra utilities (power, TV, internet) on top of the monthly rental cost. Check out this guide to help you determine how much you can afford each month.

The average 1-bedroom apartment in Dallas runs about $800 with two bedrooms averaging $1,200 per month.

 

  • Start Actually Looking

Once you have laid out a budget it is time to actually start looking at some apartments. If you don’t care what neighborhood or part of the city you are living in then there will be hundreds of apartment complexes to visit. Some of the most popular areas of Dallas for renters are, Uptown Dallas, Downtown Dallas, Lower Greenville and Knox-Henderson. If you’re unfamiliar with the city these areas should get you started with your apartment hunt.

Some quick online searches will probably help you eliminate some of the apartment  communities in these areas. Once you narrow the list down to a neighborhood and a handful or properties, this is a good point to start actually visiting some of the apartments you have seen online.

Call or email each of the apartment owners or landlords and set up an appointment to speak with them. They should be able to answer any questions you have and more than likely they will be happy to give you a tour of the facilities while also showing you what your new apartment would look like. Take notes during the visit so you can compare each apartment complex later and don’t commit to an apartment until you are sure it is the right place.

 

  • Finalize the Move In

At this point you have probably researched basically every apartment available in the area. If you already have a favorite apartment in mind then you are probably done with the search, it is worth trying to save a little money before you sign your lease though. Check out some of these dallas apartment specials before deciding on a lease; they might be able to save you a few hundred dollars quite easily.

Once you’ve decided on an apartment it is time to actually begin the moving process. You will obviously have to fill out an application for your new apartment but after that everything should be ready to go. Moving into your new apartment should be pretty simple as well. Once you’re moved in it is finally time to just sit back and relax your new home; aren’t you glad you took the time to research and find the perfect apartment for you?

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by | March 14, 2011

Apartment Hunting Checklist

When it comes to searching for an apartment there are a few important things to remember. Hopefully this list of tips will help you find the apartment you are looking for in the Dallas area; if not hopefully it will at least give you an idea of where or how to begin your search.

1. Decide what you want – This is an important step because it will obviously be the criteria you use to decide on an apartment eventually. Determine things such as location, size, monthly rent and anything else that you want or need in an apartment. Once you’ve created a list of things you want it is time to start the apartment hunt.

2. Do some research – Obviously you can’t just start blindly searching for apartments so it is important to do some research at home first. Try to find some apartment complexes online that interest you and form a list of places you would like to visit. Also take this opportunity to form a list of questions you might have for property owners.

3. Visit the ones you like – This is a pretty self explanatory step because it is just a bad idea to not visit the apartments you are considering. Try to schedule an appointment with the manager or landlord and get a tour of the apartment; this will help you make a decision much more easily.

4. Take notes on everything – The experience of apartment hunting can be very overwhelming and as a result you might forget some of the information you pick up while visiting an apartment. The best way to keep track of everything is to take organized notes for each apartment you visit; that way you won’t have any mix-ups or confusion regarding each apartment you visited.

If you follow these 4 simple steps you should have no problem staying on task and finding the perfect apartment. Don’t waste your time aimlessly trying to find an apartment because these tips can and will make everything easier for you. Print a quick checklist for apartment hunting here

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by | March 7, 2011

How To Save Water In An Apartment

Saving water in an apartment it not a difficult task; in most cases it will only requite a small amount of work and in the long run it can save you quite a bit of money. If you’ve never checked all the faucets, sinks and toilets in your apartment for leaks then you are probably throwing away money by letting gallons and gallons of water run down the pipe each and every day. Try some of these basic tips and see if they can help you save money while also helping to conserve water; there really is no reason not to do your part.

Begin by testing all of the sinks and faucets in your apartment for leaks. Generally you will be able to see or hear a leak, though small leaks may be difficult to detect. At a local hardware store you should be able to find leak testing products which will make it easier for you to pinpoint a leak. Once you know what faucets are leaking it is time to begin fixing them; either purchase a faucet rebuild kit at your local hardware store or talk to a professional plumber, either way it will help quite a bit just to fix these faucets. By eliminating these leaks you will quickly begin to reduce your water usage; this is not only good for your wallet, it is also good for the planet so you should always try to do your part.

The next step is to make some basic lifestyle changes. Millions of people leave the water running for too long or when they don’t actually need water, as a result millions of gallons of water are wasted. Renters from New York, NY highrises to Dallas, TX apartments are no different. From now on you should think about what you are doing and try to eliminate any wasteful water habits that you may have. You could even try shortening your shower by just a few minutes each day; while it may not seem like this is making a difference it could easily be saving thousands of gallons each year. Once again all of these small water savings begin to add up quickly when you are doing more than one; the more water you save the more money you save as well so it is in your best interest to start reducing your water waste.

A third way to conserve water is to make sure your washing machine and dish washer are using the water efficiently. Many of these machines have high efficiency modes which will allow them to reduce water and power usage while still functioning just as they were made to. Check and see if you have this option available, it could save you even more money on water and it might even help reduce your power bill as well.

Overall these basic tips will work quite well to help you reduce how much water you waste each day. Try them out as often as possible so you can begin doing your part to help the planet while also saving money. There is no excuse for wasting water and there is no excuse to keep paying for wasted water. Head down to a hardware store today so you can begin fixing any leaking faucets in your apartment immediately.

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