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Green lifestyles do not appear out of thin air and it is important not just for educators, but property managers to do their part in raising green renters.
Given that we are currently living through the Great Recession, some might think that mandating a 0% increase in rents would be justified, but I’m not so sure. In fact, I am absolutely certain that decreeing a 0% rental increase will ensure a lower tax base, delay necessary retrofitting, decrease a neighborhood’s sustainability and limit the population’s mobility.
We choose and invite others to be fellow participants in the quest to replace old habits with better and more sustainable ones. Starting our own adopt-a-green-neighbor campaign may seem gutsy, but most of us respond to the pressure of our peers. We can use this natural instinct to mimic each other in a good way.
Vacancy rates are up and as managers struggle to lease vacant units, the competition for prospective tenants is ferocious. Here we offer suggestions for green property maintenance, repairs and general practices that will attract and retain the uber-green tenant, a rapidly expanding class.
San Francisco currently has the nation’s toughest composting law and hopes to divert 90% of the city’s waste from landfills assuming citizens and businesses support the effort. Seattle charges participants for composting bin rentals. How soon will mandatory composting come to a city near you?
In fact, smaller is better when it comes to sustainability as a general principle. Considering your HVAC system in this light can result in substantial savings on your utility bills without sacrificing the comfort of your residents.
