Utility Wisdom

Conservice's Lauren Howard sits down with National Apartment Association President and CEO Bob Pinnegar to discuss the current state of the rental housing industry. From supply and affordability challenges to evolving regulations, consumer expectations, and the role of advocacy, Bob shares his perspective on the trends shaping multifamily today and what operators should be watching as the market c...

How did managed utility services become an essential part of multifamily operations? In this episode of Utility Wisdom , Lauren Howard sits down with industry veteran Jerry Davis to explore the history of utility management, the industry's shift away from in-house processes, and the lessons learned over decades of change.

In this episode of Utility Wisdom , we break down the 8 key climate hazards impacting multifamily real estate—from rising heat and heavy precipitation to floods, wildfires, and coastal risk. Learn how to distinguish between gradual operational stress and high-impact events, and why not all risks carry the same weight across your portfolio.

The ROAD to Housing Act aims to tackle affordability, but will it actually lead to more housing? In this episode of Utility Wisdom, we explore what’s inside the bill, how it could impact housing supply, and why capital, policy, and execution all play a role in what ultimately gets built.

In this episode of Utility Wisdom , we unpack Vacant Cost Recovery (VCR) and how billing gaps from delayed service transfers or early disconnects can quietly erode NOI. Learn how to spot recoverable charges, avoid “vacant theft,” and use automation to catch issues early. If you’re not actively managing utility billing during move-ins and move-outs, there’s likely money being left on the table.

Senior living teams are built around care, not administration. This Utility Wisdom episode looks at how utilities quietly add operational strain in senior living communities and what a more structured approach can change.

The language around ESG may be changing. The work is not. This Utility Wisdom episode looks at how companies are navigating shifting federal policy while staying aligned with state, local, and market-driven expectations.

Senior living construction solves one problem and introduces another: how to operate efficiently at scale. This Utility Wisdom episode examines the utility and compliance considerations that often get overlooked until it’s too late.

In this episode of Utility Wisdom , we walk through the USDA’s 2025 rule change expanding financing for existing manufactured homes and why operators should be thinking now about infrastructure capacity, utility billing, and compliance as occupancy grows.

As rent growth slows and scrutiny increases in single family rentals, this Utility Wisdom conversation looks at how operators are shifting from rent-driven strategies to tighter cost control, with utilities playing a central role.

This episode takes a ground-level look at property management in 2025 through one unglamorous but revealing lens: utilities. From rising energy demand and grid investment to state-level ESG requirements and climate stress on infrastructure, it connects the dots operators are feeling every day.

In this episode of Utility Wisdom, we explore the waste management shifts showing up at multifamily properties right now, including composting, e-waste, smart compactors, and strategies to reduce hauls and contamination.

This Utility Wisdom episode takes a closer look at utility management in build-to-rent properties, including visibility challenges, service interruptions, and why owner-held utilities tend to scale more reliably than renter-controlled setups.

In this episode of Utility Wisdom , we examine how location shapes utility costs across the U.S., from energy market structures and local resource access to water availability and regulatory constraints. The conversation looks at why costs vary so widely by state and what property teams should consider when managing utilities in different regions.

This Utility Wisdom episode looks at how rent caps change the operating math for property owners, and the role utility management plays in protecting margins when rent growth is constrained.

Move-in-ready internet has become an expectation for multifamily residents. This episode breaks down how bulk WiFi works, why it’s being treated more like a utility than an amenity, and what owners and operators need to consider when evaluating internet management strategies.

In this episode of Utility Wisdom, we zoom out to look at the sheer scale of utilities across the U.S. housing and real estate landscape, from the number of buildings and service points to the data flowing through them every day. It’s a reminder of why utilities matter and what becomes possible when they’re managed with intention.