Urban American Management Pledges to Discontinue Use of Incandescent Bulbs at 180 Residential Properties Throughout New York Metro Area

NEW YORK, Dec. 8, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- As part of a much larger initiative to promote sustainability and conserve energy, Urban American Management, an owner and manager of apartment buildings in the New York metro area, has asked all of its more than 500 building maintenance, construction and supply staff to sign a "Light Bulb Pledge" to never again purchase, install or replace incandescent lighting in any one of its over 180 properties.

Effective immediately, Urban American Management will only purchase compact fluorescent lighting (CFLs), light-emitting diode lamps (LEDs), and other energy efficient lighting technologies to replace incandescent lighting and fixtures in the common areas of all of its properties. 

"Purchasing CFLs instead of incandescent lighting is an inexpensive, sustainable way for the buildings to use less electricity, reduce greenhouse gases, and save money," said Joshua Eisenberg, a partner at Urban American and director of the company's sustainability and energy efficiency efforts.  "We buy tens of thousands of light bulbs per year and feel that we can lead by example and have real impact on market demand for energy efficient products."

This transition to using energy efficient lighting exclusively throughout Urban American's properties will save millions of pounds of harmful CO2 every year. 

Urban American has made a strategic decision to lead urban communities in the reduction of carbon emissions by promoting sustainable and affordable workforce housing. Besides the light bulb program, Urban American's other sustainable practices include efforts like weatherizing and retrofitting thousands of apartments, painting hundreds of roofs with silver UV-reflective paint, putting in motion sensors to activate lighting in non-pedestrian areas and installing low flow water fixtures, top of the line heating plants and fuel consumption management systems.

To date, Urban American Management has invested over $10 million in making its apartment communities more energy efficient and reducing their carbon footprint.  "We look for practical, opportunistic methods that both promote sustainability and increase the value of our buildings," Mr. Eisenberg said.  "By promoting energy efficiency and recruiting our residents to assist our efforts, we can achieve greater affordability, greater investment returns and make a real and lasting impact on our environment."

SOURCE Urban American Management