Regardless of your position on climate change or the whole green movement, going green means savings to the property owner and the renter; therefore, a partnership between the property owner and resident is very important.  The property manager or owner needs to provide education and an energy efficient living space and the renter needs to use the space wisely.

Efficient living spaces will give the property an edge over other rentals. Working with residents to reduce a property’s environmental impact will help to reduce operating expenses, keep utility bills low for the renter and help save Mother Earth for future generations.  Here are some ‘Going Green’ tips for the dog days of summer so we can stay cool and still save some green.

Dusty air conditioning filters reduce air flow.  Examine filters monthly  and keep a supply on hand.  Better yet, furnish the property with a reusable filter, which can be easily cleaned by vacuuming out or rinsing in water.  Tenants often are happy to change them and everyone can save up to 15% on their electric bill.  If you allow residents to do basic maintenance, be sure to provide them with a manual or some other type of education.

There are many ways to lower energy use that are low  and no cost but they do require modest changes in behavior.  For example, a key to reducing air conditioning costs during hot summer days is to limit the amount of heat generated during the day when temperatures are at their highest.  This can be accomplished in a number of ways.

• Keep lights off when rooms are not in use.  Lights generate heat which means your air conditioner will have to work harder to keep the place cool.
• Green renters will want to wash and dry clothes, iron and cook in the morning or later in the evening.
• Use microwave ovens and patio barbecues for cooking.
• Be sure to have ceiling fans available in all the rooms.  The air movement helps air circulation and makes it feel cooler without having to lower the thermostat.
• Encourage residents to set the thermostat to 78°.  This may seem high, but when combined with a fan is quite tolerable.

Also remember to set the temperature in the common areas to 78°.  Just by setting the thermostat down to 72° from 78° increases cooling costs by as much as 45%.  Remind residents to turn the thermostat up or off when they are not home and back down to be more comfortable at night.  Better yet, install a digital thermostat that can be programmed once and never think about it again.

Your staff and tenants may appreciate a gentle reminder not to position heat-producing appliances, such as televisions or lamps, near the thermostat. The heat from the appliances causes the thermostat to read high and causes the air conditioner to run longer than necessary.

Resident comfort will also be enhanced if you install louvers or awnings on the outside of the windows to keep sun out of the units.  Indoors it is up to residents to draw draperies, blinds, or shades to keep things cool.  Keeping storm windows closed is also like having another layer of insulation on your windows in summer or winter.

Insulation is not only about making sure your attic has some pink stuff, it’s about making sure that you save “green”.  When you insulate, make sure that there is insulation in the ceiling rafters, crawl spaces, basement walls and floors and exterior walls, if possible.  Insulating inside walls around light switches and wall receptacles will provide big savings because it stops air leaks. Make sure that building air conditioning vents are also well-insulated and sealed.  Make sure that doors and windows have weather stripping. By the way, if you see daylight around your doors and windows, then you are wasting energy.

As you can see, green property management is truly a partnership between the property owner and the resident.  Keeping cool with these tips will help renters to reduce their utility bills through decreased energy consumption.  Proper care and maintenance of all HVAC equipment will benefit owners as it helps ensure longer systems life.

With education everyone wins. . . owner, resident, and Mother Earth.  That is what Going Green is all about.

This is a Guest Post by A. W. Warner.  He  is the Owner of AW Warner Management, located in Palm City, Florida. Warner has thirty-five years experience in managing multiple properties both in domestic and international markets.  AW Warner Management is a team of professionals, members of the Institute of Real Estate Management and wants to be part of saving Mother Earth for our children and our children’s children.   A portion of all of our profits goes to the American Cancer Society. www.awwarner-management.com