Energy Bees

As temperatures climb, we're hearing the same question from developers and asset managers across the country: where do we get the most bang for our buck on energy performance?

Here's what we're seeing in the field:

🌬️ 𝗛𝗶𝗴𝗵 𝗘𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆 𝗛𝗩𝗔𝗖 continues to be the single biggest driver of utility savings in multifamily. Proper sizing matters just as much as the equipment itself. Oversized units short cycle, undersized units run constantly. Both cost more.

🏠 𝗜𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗹𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 is the unsung hero. In hot climates especially, attic insulation and air sealing deliver outsized returns. A well-sealed building envelope means your HVAC isn't fighting the weather all day.

💧 𝗟𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗹𝗼𝘄 𝗙𝗶𝘅𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀 are one of the simplest wins available. Reducing hot water consumption cuts both water and water heating costs, two line items that add up fast across hundreds of units.

🪟 𝗪𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗺𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 is worth the conversation at design stage. Low-E coatings and proper shading can meaningfully reduce cooling loads before the system ever turns on.

The buildings our clients are most proud of aren't just energy efficient on paper. They perform that way in the heat of the summer.

📩 Curious how your next deal stacks up? 𝘄𝘄𝘄.𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗿𝗴𝘆𝗯𝗲𝗲𝘀.𝗰𝗼𝗺/𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁

We're halfway through 2026.

For LIHTC teams, that means it's time to step back and ask:

✅ Do your utility allowances still reflect current conditions?
✅ Have rate changes since January affected your NOI projections?
✅ Are fall application deadlines on your radar and is your utility allowance strategy ready?

The deals that close strong in Q4 are the ones that do the work now.

At Energy Bees, we're already supporting teams preparing for fall rounds. Whether it's a new ECM, a HUSM update, or a portfolio review, now is the right time to get ahead of it.

📩 Let's talk. www.energybees.com/contact

🌸 Art that tells a story.

New Hope Housing has always built with community in mind, and Avenue C is a beautiful example of that commitment in action. A landmark for Houston's East

End that goes beyond four walls and a roof.
So excited to see this community thriving and proud to support a client doing it right. 🐝

Check out their video here:
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/new-hope-housing-inc-_newhopehousing-avenuec-eastendhouston-activity-7465779853339045888-h-zp?utm_source=social_share_send&utm_medium=member_desktop_web&rcm=ACoAAAR3bA8BFXv7sb48HXCXRILynAgEa8PbK9U

🐝 Nine Years of Energy Bees

Nine years ago, Energy Bees was founded on a simple belief: that energy expertise should deliver real outcomes — for communities, for clients, and for the people who depend on both.

A lot has happened since then.

📍 From Texas to 24+ states
📊 Hundreds of energy models delivered
🏘️ Thousands of affordable housing units supported
⚡ Utility programs evaluated, improved, and strengthened
🤝 Partnerships built on trust, precision, and follow-through

We've grown from a small energy consulting firm into a team that works across affordable housing, program evaluation, utility compliance, and infrastructure resilience and we're just getting started.

To every client, partner, and collaborator who has trusted us with your work: thank you.

Year 9 was a good one. Year 10 is going to be even better. 🐝✨

Case Study Series: Part 3 of 3
💰 $𝟱𝟳𝟮𝗞 𝗶𝗻 𝗔𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗢𝗜. 𝗛𝗲𝗿𝗲'𝘀 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗥𝗲𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗪𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗵.

Over the last two posts, we walked through 10 real ECMs, 1,032 units across 4 states, generating $572,124 in combined annual NOI benefit over published PHA schedules.

Let's break down what that actually means:

📊 $𝟱𝟳𝟮,𝟭𝟮𝟰 in combined annual NOI benefit
🏘️ $𝟰𝟲/𝗺𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗵 𝗽𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁 on average across the portfolio
💰 $𝟴𝗠–$𝟵𝗠 in potential property value at today's cap rates

Think about that $46/month per unit on your next deal. Multiply it by your unit count. Now multiply it by your cap rate.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗮 𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗮𝗹𝗹𝗼𝘄𝗮𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁'𝘀 𝗮 𝗰𝗮𝗽𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝘀𝘁𝗿𝘂𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝗰𝗼𝗻𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻.

Energy Bees helps build financial leverage into your deal.

📩 Let's find out together. energybees.com/contact

Case Study Series: Part 2 of 3
📍𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗽𝗲𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗡𝘂𝗺𝗯𝗲𝗿𝘀. 𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗼𝗳.

Here's what our 10-property ECM case study looked like:

🏘️ Houston, TX — 144 units — $152,136 annual NOI lift
🏘️ Waco, TX — 104 units — $80,928 annual NOI lift
🏘️ Flagstaff, AZ — 77 units — $79,224 annual NOI lift
🏘️ Houston, TX — 103 units — $77,844 annual NOI lift
🏘️ Chandler, AZ — 250 units — $47,532 annual NOI lift
🏘️ Grady, OK — 80 units — $38,400 annual NOI lift
🏘️ Salt Lake City, UT — 80 units — $32,460 annual NOI lif
🏘️ Fort Worth, TX — 108 units — $28,320 annual NOI lift
🏘️ Phoenix, AZ — 56 units — $26,928 annual NOI lift
🏘️ Clint, TX — 30 units — $8,352 annual NOI lift

Single-family. Multifamily. Electricity only. Mixed utilities. New construction. Rehab. Across 4 states, 9 cities.

Every single one of these properties was leaving money on the table with a published schedule.

An ECM changed that.

𝗧𝗵𝘂𝗿𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: what $572,124 in annual NOI actually means for property value and what it could mean for your deal.

Case Study Series: Part 1 of 3:
📊 𝗔 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲 𝗦𝘁𝘂𝗱𝘆 𝗶𝗻 𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗘𝗖𝗠𝘀 𝗔𝗰𝘁𝘂𝗮𝗹𝗹𝘆 𝗗𝗲𝗹𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗿

We looked back at our last 10 Energy Consumption Models we completed across our portfolio.

Different states. Different property types. Different utility structures.

One consistent finding:
𝟭,𝟬𝟯𝟮 𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝘀. 𝟰 𝘀𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝘀. 𝟵 𝗰𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀. $𝟱𝟳𝟮,𝟭𝟮𝟰 𝗶𝗻 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗯𝗶𝗻𝗲𝗱 𝗮𝗻𝗻𝘂𝗮𝗹 𝗡𝗢𝗜 𝗯𝗲𝗻𝗲𝗳𝗶𝘁 𝗼𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗽𝘂𝗯𝗹𝗶𝘀𝗵𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗛𝗔 𝘀𝗰𝗵𝗲𝗱𝘂𝗹𝗲𝘀.

That's not a coincidence. That's what happens when utility allowances are built around how a building actually performs, not what a published schedule assumes.

This week we're breaking it all down.

𝗡𝗲𝘅𝘁 𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆: the properties, the numbers, and the details behind the data.

📩 Curious what your numbers could look like? energybees.com/contact

🏠 Congratulations to Save The Family Foundation and Brinshore Development, LLC on the grand opening of Phoenix Scholar House!

Housing designed to support single parents pursuing education and career training. This is what meaningful affordable housing looks like!

We are proud to support this project with an Energy Consumption Model. Excited to see the impact this community will create.

Read more about Phoenix Scholar Houses grand opening here:
www.linkedin.com/posts/allisiafiorini_phoenixscholarhouse-grandopening-affordablehousing-ugcPost-7454374466027118592--_z4/?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop&rcm=ACoAAAcoa5IBU4Q403BDVy8bo_ZyJ4dpIxg1mas

This week, Energy Bees CEO Sadie Bronk had the privilege of speaking at West Cypress Hills Elementary School for Career Day with 4th graders.

Sadie shared how Energy Bees helps make homes more energy efficient and affordable for families across the country, and why being an entrepreneur is one of the most rewarding paths you can choose.

The next generation of problem solvers, innovators, and change makers is out there. Days like this are a reminder of why the work we do matters, not just for today, but for the future we are all building together.

Thank you to West Cypress Hills Elementary for having us! 🎉

Texas electricity prices are at their seasonal low right now. Historically, April and May offer the most favorable rates before summer demand drives costs back up.

For affordable housing teams, this is the time to ask:
📊 Do your current utility allowances reflect today's energy landscape?
💰 Is there NOI opportunity sitting in your portfolio right now?

Spring does not last long. Neither does this window.

📩 Let's talk. www.energybees.com/contact