In 2009, Castellan Real Estate Partners implemented its investing strategy to take advantage of market drops following the 2008 economic crisis. Since then, the firm has switched its strategy to focus on densely populated urban areas. In addition, Castellan Real Estate Partners focuses on tenant satisfaction and green improvement of its properties.
Making green improvements can significantly enhance the tenant experience and reduce turnover. One such improvement involves replacing single-pane windows with double-pane options.
A single-pane window has only one piece of glass, which makes it less effective at keeping out noise and protecting against outside temperatures. While these windows cost less initially, they result in higher energy bills because they provide very little insulation. Homes in quiet areas with mild seasonal temperatures may not see a difference, but buildings in most areas of the United States benefit significantly from double-pane windows.
The second piece of glass in double-pane windows provides much better insulation. The air that fills the space between the two panes helps trap heat during the summer and cold during the winter, so that air-conditioning and heating systems do not have to work as hard. Double-pane windows can reduce energy bills by 24 percent in the winter and 18 percent in the summer while also keeping out outside noise, which is especially valuable in a city.
