According to this article (https://www.extension.harvard.edu/inside-extension...) written by Teo Nicholais, we know the real estate market goes through circles (in phases): Phase 1 - RECOVERY:  We know the characteristics of a recession: high unemployment; decreased consumption; and decreased company investment in buildings, factories, and machines.

When we encounter a property with oil heat we discount it in our offer ... for us it is the environmental liability of having several hundred or thousand gallons of heating oil stored on site.Regardless of your heating fuel choice the best way to improve efficiency is to reduce fuel consumption via better air sealing and additional insulation.

Mitch, good point along the principal of the marginal perpensity of consumption!

A smart grid for energy consumption will be the next step.

Also if you pay any consumption related utilities you can justify some increase by occupancy level but it is better to just have them pay utilities.

We always replace the fixtures (toilets, shower, faucets) in our new acquisitions with modern, low-flow fixtures to cut down on water consumption - the cost of which has always been in our hands {until now ... we are embarking on our first retrofit of sub-metered water into one of our properties}.

Are we going to ban the possession and consumption of pot brownies?

Unemployment still not low enough to justify it and its not like Xmas showed fantastic retail consumptions.

Even if your new washers are not Energy Star, or even HE units, they should be a little wiser with water consumption and, with a new 40usg heater you will be fine.  

I called and the lady on the phone stated this is the amount that is billed every 6 months regardless of water consumption.