Compliant, Comprehensive Utility Allowance Analysis for affordable housing properties

Zappling receives 2022 and 2023 Best of Charlottesville award

Utility allowances play a significant role in the realm of affordable housing. Backed by over 30 years of experience, Zappling has consulted for HUD and provided utility allowances for hundreds of public housing authorities and private properties across the country. Zappling will identify and calculate the appropriate allowance schedule for a project and ensure it meets all relevant state and federal regulations. We provide scenario modelling and tenant education resources to further improve allowances and reduce carbon footprint. Please email our team for more information.

Our History

Zappling was originally formed under 2rw Consultants Inc. over 20 years ago for energy modelling, utility allowance calculations and reporting. Soon after, the need for a streamlined platform to capture, analyze, and report data became evident, leading to the development of several cloud-based analytical tools. UApro™ and UApro+™ were developed under Licensed Professional Engineers and energy professionals to streamline the process for utility allowances while enabling scale at low cost. Thus, we are able to process hundreds if not thousands of utility allowances with exceptional accuracy, and affordability allowing us to work with some of the largest property managers and housing authorities in the country

Our Differentiators

1. Tech-enablement

   • Unlike our competition, we've invested heavily in automation and database platforms to regenerate the models and data

   • This allows lower cost during the renewal process (savings we pass onto you), reduces error rates, and allows for modifications/upgrades more easily

   • The reports are standardized, visually pleasing, and intuitive

2. Compliance strength

   • We work across the nation, have the deep experience base, and relationships with regulators

   • We have not had rejections to date and have several PEs on staff to approve ECMs

   • We are one of the few providers approved in Florida, Texas and other markets

   • We fill out forms for you to our full ability, and send you annual compliance reminders for all your properties

3. Cash flow and ROI focus

   • We are always looking for opportunities to maximize the cash flow of our client properties and view utility allowances as strategic to the operation of the business

   • In conjunction with our scenario modelling, we ensure that existing upgrades are fully being taken credit for, and new upgrades are being considered

4. Fairness to tenants and community

   • Our models use a conservative orientation and unit placement to ensure that allowances are applicable to all unit configurations

   • This minimizes the number of unique models required and ensures tenants are not unduly burdened with a low allowance. This is an approach regulators prefer and is simple to administer for property managers