Wesley Living of Memphis, Inc.: Energy performance

Better Buildings Challenge Partners strive to decrease portfolio-wide source energy use intensity (EUI) and to increase the percent improvement compared to a set baseline. Wesley Housing Corporation's portfolio consists of 29 properties and more than 1 million square feet. Since 2013, Wesley has improved energy performance by an average of 3% each year.  This is equivalent to a cumulative improvement of 17%, accounting for the varying lengths of time properties were included in Wesley’s portfolio. Wesley has achieved energy savings through a systematic improvement of the building efficiencies. Most of its portfolio is statutorily restricted from taking on debt, so they focus on energy upgrades during refinancing and apartment turnovers so as not to disrupt occupants and spread out the costs over a period of time and financing them out of operational accounts. Additionally, they rely upon a published list of approved materials, and high efficiency lighting and appliances products as a way to standardize and track energy improvements. 
 

Looking at the percent improvement in energy performance across all properties can provide insight into how an organization is saving energy. Wesley Housing Corporation has achieved energy performance improvement of greater than 10% at 13 of its properties. There are 8 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. Wesley Housing Corporation's 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 2013. The properties located near or below the 0% axis may present good opportunities for further savings.