Case Study
Overview Greenhouse CONDOMINIUMS: Property Management Utility Bill Audit
Overview
Greenhouse Condominium is a 16-story high-rise complex with over 287 units, serving a large residential community with the energy demands that come with it: elevators, common area lighting, HVAC systems, shared amenities, and more running around the clock.
Kathryn Hutchison, CMCA, AMS, PCAM, is a long-time customer of Utility Management Services (UMS), having previously worked with UMS through earlier management positions. When Kathryn took on a new role as General Manager at Greenhouse Condominium, one of her first calls was to UMS.
Using proprietary software RateMaster, UMS’s certified Business Energy Professional analysts searched Greenhouse’s billing history for errors, overcharges, and more cost-effective rate and rider combinations based on the building’s actual usage patterns, all off-site, with no disruption to residents.
The initial audit revealed $15,540 in annual savings. UMS continued monitoring Greenhouse’s accounts after implementation, and four months later identified an additional $1,500 in annual savings, bringing the total to over $17,000 per year.
As a bonus, UMS provided Kathryn with detailed documentation of usage changes reflecting the energy efficiency upgrades she had made to the building’s equipment, giving her concrete data to present to the board and demonstrate the impact of her management decisions.
“It’s the General Manager/Property Manager’s responsibility to always make time for a meeting if it could save the property money!”
The Facts
- Greenhouse Condominium is a 16 story high-rise complex with 287 residential units
- UMS's initial audit identified $15,540 in annual utility savings with no operational changes required
- Continued account monitoring uncovered an additional $1,500 in annual savings four months later