You don't have to own it to execute it!
The economic collapse combined with the ease and access of social media has enabled a culture of borrowing, sharing and bartering to emerge across the country. As described by Rachel Botsman and Roo Rogers, this collaborative consumption through ‘peer-to-peer technologies’ takes many forms and can be quite beneficial to society - including renters and property managers.
Depending upon the needs of your community and its size, a program that allows residents to borrow items such as vacuum cleaners, hammers, drills, small appliances (ice cream makers, blenders, etc.), bicycles or moving boxes might be quite popular. This kind of lending system allows residents to reduce and reuse products and extends their life.
- Residents don’t need to buy stuff, so they save money.
- Residents don’t need to store things, so they save space.
- Fewer goods are produced and shipped, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and the carbon footprint.
Should you charge for this type of service? In a word, yes. Management will be required to maintain and keep track of borrowed items and this takes time and money; however, no one likes to feel nickeled and dimed, so I recommend a simple annual fee.
If this lending system isn’t practical because you manage fewer units, forgo on-site management or your assets are separated geographically, there are a number of other ways to encourage a community to consume wisely. Via your resident education curriculum and periodic email updates, encourage participation in programs like these:
NeighborGoods – A great idea with a brandable name. Who could ask for more? I just joined this site which allows neighbors to borrow items from each other within a given geographic range. It seems like a great way to grow community as well.
Freecycle – Grouped by geographic area, Freecyclers post what they want to obtain or what they are trying to get rid of on the site and then are contacted via email by other members of the group. I assume each group has its own flavor, but my group (yes, I’m actually a member) is very low key. Usually postings are brief and lack pictures, so don’t log-on expecting Craigslist. Common items in my area include baby clothes and moving boxes, but even small efforts to reuse and recycle will matter cumulatively.
ReUseIt Network – I am not a member of this group but it appears to be very similar to Freecycle and is available in Canada, Australia and the UK.
Zipcar - Coming to a neighborhood near you (soon I hope). Members are able to book cars online for specific time periods and use a pass to access the vehicle. Cars are usually parked in various spots around the city and users are billed hourly and per mile. I’ve used this service in San Francisco and found it tremendously easy and convenient.
SwapStyle – For those fashionistas out there, this is the site for you. Swap clothes, handbags, accessories, etc. with fellow trendsetters and never wear the same dress twice!
Keep in mind that as of August 21, 2010, we overshot nature’s budget for the year, meaning we have consumed more than the earth can produce, its ‘biocapacity’ and are now ’spending’ our future reserves. By actively advocating borrowing, re-using, sharing and swapping, green property management professionals help to ensure their communities stay vibrant and assist green renters in their efforts to draw down consumption.
Other articles of interest:
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[...] The Green Land Lady has some interesting tips and resources on how to help your residents save time and money with ‘share-programs’. Here’s a blurb. [...]