Vantage Makes $5M Investment to Optimize Heating Systems at 139-Unit Affordable Housing Portfolio

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorNew York–Vantage Properties LLC has begun a major initiative, in partnership with U.S. Energy Group, to reduce the carbon footprint of its 139-building multifamily portfolio in New York City. Using U.S. Energy’s energy management and control technologies to optimize usage, waste and pollution will be dramatically reduced for each property. The company estimates that the $5 million investment it is making towards this initiative will result in 15 percent energy conservation savings per property annually. Work on all the buildings will be complete by end of 2009.“We view this investment as a way to consume energy more efficiently and manage our buildings better,” Neil Rubler, president and CEO of Vantage Properties LLC, tells MHN. “Also, as a company we are committed to green strategies”The buildings in the Vantage portfolio are located in Queens and Manhattan and are anywhere from 50 to 70 years old. “There is only so much we can do to make these buildings more energy efficient,” says Rubler. “With this investment, we are able to minimize the cost of heating and make it more consistent, reliable and easy to control for the residents.” Most multifamily buildings use a single outside sensor to control cycling of the fuel-energy system—a method which is highly inaccurate, often resulting in the burning of excess fuel and, therefore, increased pollution. Now, Vantage is implementing U.S. Energy’s Energy Management System (EMS) which uses strategically placed sensors throughout each property to reach the ideal comfort level for all residents without waste. Consequently, the properties achieve increased energy efficiency while reducing overall operating costs. Additionally, each Vantage building will be monitored with USE-Manager (pictured), which provides online analysis of each facility’s fuel-energy system in order to identify weaknesses and potential problems, track usage and alert building management immediately regarding any issues that could impact residents. These measures not only reduce the carbon footprint of the properties, they also prolong the life of each heating system.  “The ability to remotely view the performance of each heating unit is very beneficial for us because of the size of our portfolio,” says Rubler.