The Schochet Companies: Energy performance

Better Buildings Challenge Partners commit to decrease portfolio-wide source energy use intensity (EUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. Schochet Companies has improved their portfolio-wide energy performance by 18% from a 2011 baseline, making progress towards a goal of 20% by 2021. Energy savings have been achieved through a company-wide initiative focused on electric, gas, and water efficiency projects, improved control technologies, and alternative energy opportunities, as well as operational savings and staff engagement. Green cleaning and other "healthy living" policies have also been implemented. 

Multifamily property owners often face challenges in gathering whole building data for properties with large numbers of individual tenant-paid utility accounts. Through the Better Buildings Challenge, partners can demonstrate progress towards their savings goal by reporting two types of data: (1) whole-building energy use, including tenant-paid utilities, for at least 30 percent of their portfolio; and (2) owner-paid receipts (common areas only) for the remaining share of their portfolio. Schochet Companies' portfolio consists of 23 properties and more than 3.6 million square feet and approximately 4,000 housing units, with whole-building data (both tenant-paid and owner-paid receipts) available for 53% of their portfolio.

This graph breaks out the portfolio's energy performance for properties with whole building energy use vs those with owner-paid receipts. The energy intensity for properties with whole-building data is much higher than those with owner-paid receipts, because it accounts for the significant use associated with tenant spaces.  Schochet Companies has achieved 18% savings in properties with whole-building data and 6% in properties with owner-paid receipts. 

Looking at the percent improvement in energy performance across all facilities can provide insight into how an organization is saving energy. Schochet Companies has achieved energy performance improvement of greater than 15% at more than 7 of its properties. There are 6 properties that have experienced an increase in Source EUI.  These properties have been targeted for future energy efficiency improvements.

Property-level energy performance metrics, including EUI and percent improvement to date, are critical to track progress over time and identify opportunities for additional energy savings. Schochet Companies' portfolio consists of properties with a wide range of baseline EUI values, most of which are from  50 to 150 kBtu/sq. ft. The majority of properties have shown energy improvement since 2011. The properties located near or below the 0% axis may present good opportunities for further savings.