In 2008, Essex created the Resource Management Department (now more appropriately titled Sustainability Department), experts at managing the resource consumption at our properties.

For more than a decade, the Company has invested strategically in sustainable solutions and proven technology to reduce environmental impact, increase our residents’ quality of living, and decrease utility costs:

• $57.6 million invested in energy efficiency
• $32.2 million invested in renewable energy
• $8.1 million invested in water conservancy

The Solar Photovoltaic (PV) projects Essex has implemented in the past five years have led to the generation of 8,494 MWh of renewable energy in 2021 and less dependence on the grid. The mitigation of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions achieved by these projects is equivalent to removing over 1,000 passenger cars from circulation.

As part of our ongoing commitment to energy efficiency and reducing carbon emissions, Essex is using smart hot water management systems across 128 multifamily communities. In 2020 alone, we saved over 694K therms of gas usage, which reduced our greenhouse gas emissions equivalent to taking an additional 799 passenger cars off the road for one full year.

We continually strive to reduce our water consumption footprint throughout our portfolio. We accomplish this with several strategies: native landscaping, 2-way smart irrigation technologies, removal of fountains, and the installation of water-saving devices.

To date, 131 Essex communities have water-saving irrigation or landscaping and 49% of our communities have water-efficient fixtures in place.

Essex provides recycling options at all of its communities and offices and has implemented programs to promote recycling and reduce the amount of waste sent to landfills.

In 2021, we continued working with third-party vendors to optimize the waste processes at 191 communities.