Illuminate Your Building and Your Bottom Line

Local Law 88's LED Upgrade Deadline

As a co-op or condo board member, you're no stranger to making decisions that benefit both your residents and your building's bottom line. One such decision you'll want to consider is upgrading your building's lighting to LED fixtures, and you'll want to act fast: Local Law 88 requires all buildings to make this upgrade by December 31st, 2024.

While the law applies to all buildings greater than 25,000 sq ft in New York City, it's especially important for co-ops and condos with common areas such as hallways, basements, and stairwells that are typically left illuminated 24/7. Making the switch to LED not only helps your building meet regulatory requirements but can also lead to significant savings on your electricity expenses in the long run.

Tina LarssonApril 16, 2023Comment

When to Consider Remeasuring Your Building

A Look at Local Law 97 Compliance

New York City's Local Law 97 has put in place strict regulations aimed at reducing carbon emissions from buildings greater than 25,000 square feet. While this is a positive move towards a more sustainable future, it also means that building owners are at risk of significant fines for non-compliance. As a result, many building owners are considering remeasuring their properties to avoid penalties. However, the decision to remeasure is not straightforward and requires careful consideration of several factors.

Tina LarssonApril 9, 2023Comment

Green Living in the Big Apple

5 Simple Ways to Save Water (and Money!) in Your NYC Co-op or Condo

Everybody wants to do their part to chip in and help save the planet; particularly if it helps them save their own money! In the past, we’ve offered many useful tips on reducing electrical consumption. While it is generally understood that electricity and water don’t mix, we are going to ignore that and follow up with tips on saving water (and of course, money)!

Tina LarssonApril 2, 2023Comment

Out with the Old

Can New Garbage Setout Times Save New York City from Its Rat Infestation?

New York City's rat problem is infamous, with the rodents running rampant in many areas of the city. In an effort to combat this issue, the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) has announced changes to garbage setout times, effective April 1st, 2023. The current setout times of 4pm - midnight will be revised, with new times for different types of waste.

Tina LarssonMarch 26, 2023Comment

Term Limits for Co-op and Condo Board Members

The pros and cons

Cooperative and condominium communities are unique in their governance structures. Instead of a single homeowner being responsible for their property, a board of directors is elected to manage the affairs of the entire community. These boards are responsible for enforcing the rules and regulations of the community, managing finances, and making decisions that affect the entire community.

Tina LarssonMarch 19, 2023Comment

Cutting the Cord

Why Condo and Co-op Boards Should Reconsider Cable Bulk Agreements

As a co-op and condo efficiency consultant, we analyze our clients’ operating expense and income line items as well as their contracts. When we hear that they are in a cable bulk agreement, we immediately review it to get the end date so that we can cancel it at the earliest possible date. Why? Because it’s a losing proposition that is very expensive for most buildings.

Mark FoleyMarch 12, 2023Comment

Short, Sweet, and Productive

The Ideal Length for Your Next NYC Co-op or Condo Board Meeting

As a member of a New York City co-op or condo board, you understand the importance of conducting regular board meetings to manage the operations of your building. However, finding the balance between covering all the necessary topics while not stretching the meeting out for an unreasonable amount of time can be challenging. In this article, we will explore the benefits of keeping your NYC co-op or condo board meeting time less than one hour for optimal efficiency and productivity.

Tina LarssonMarch 5, 2023Comment

Five Smart Technology Options to Make your Home More Energy Efficient

Technology is advancing rapidly, and now anyone can have access to all kinds of innovations in the comfort of their own homes via smart home technology. In fact, smart home devices, which include things like smart speakers, smart security cameras, smart appliances, and more, are expected to be found in many more homes in the next five years. After all, improving the home has become a big focus in recent years, with more people wanting to increase safety and convenience by digitalizing their living spaces.

Tina LarssonFebruary 26, 2023Comment

Avoiding Common Pitfalls on Your Coop or Condo Board

Do you have the tools to help your building succeed?

Every New Year, people make resolutions. Sometimes they are extremely ambitious and thus hard to live up to. Sometimes they are more reasonable but are not accompanied by a strategy to make them achievable. This is similar to being on a coop or condo board. Being a member of a co-op or condo board can be a challenging responsibility. With the new year in full swing, it's an excellent time to reevaluate board members' resolutions to ensure that they're avoiding common pitfalls. By doing so, they can keep their communities running smoothly and efficiently. Here are some tips on how to succeed in keeping those resolutions.

Tina LarssonFebruary 19, 2023Comment

Celebrate Valentine's Day and the Planet

A Guide to Recycling in NYC Co-Ops and Condos

Valentine's Day is a time to celebrate love, affection, and togetherness. But as we celebrate with our loved ones, it's important not to forget about the planet that sustains us all. This Valentine's Day, why not show some love to the environment by making a conscious effort to recycle in your New York City co-op or condo? By recycling, we can reduce the amount of waste that ends up in landfills and help protect the planet for future generations. Here’s some basics on how to recycle in NYC co-ops and condos and make this Valentine's Day a sustainable one.

Tina LarssonFebruary 12, 2023Comment