Ok, we just had Earth Day, and the current trend in marketing is to say you are Green. What does being green mean in property management and our daily lives and can it also save us some green – money?
Here are some things I do in my office and things I recommend to Owners/Tenants.
My office:
§ We print lots of paper. We use the back of the printed side. Then we recycle our paper.
§ We water the plants and yard at our office once a week. That is it.
§ We don’t wash our windows until they really need it.
§ I have started walking to and from work and I leave my car at work.
§ We open the blinds in all offices and don’t turn on the lights
§ I purchase recycled products for my office – paper for one
§ We each have our own coffee mug instead of using paper cups and tossing
§ My house cleaners use non-toxic products
§ My contractors know to recycle paint and building products.
§ Install energy efficient bulbs
§ Lower the water level in the toilet tank (less to fill up each time)
§ We stopped providing copies of all maintenance invoices with monthly statements to owners.
The info is on the statement. This saved employee time, paper, and postage.
Owners:
§ Put in a drip system on landscaping
§ Consider removing grass from yards and landscaping with draught tolerant plants
§ Change out toilets if really old to low flow
§ I offer monthly owner statements via email instead of print, and put in envelop, post and mail.
§ Pay bills on line.
§ Participate in our Preventative Maintenance Program – catch the small stuff before it becomes big.
§ Install energy efficient appliances even if not the cheapest
§ Use non-toxic paints, carpets in rentals
§ Change out heater filters annually
§ Ensure good insulation in the attic or ceiling to roof space.
§ Install dual pane windows
§ Consider solar installation for a very large home
§ Install energy efficient light bulbs
§ Lower water level in toilet tanks
Tenants:
§ Report drips and leaks immediately
§ Water yard or plant a garden and eat the food produced
§ Lower temp on water heater
§ Lower thermostat to save on PGE
§ If no problem with HOA rules, hang clothes on a clothes line instead of dryer
§ Wash laundry less. Even one load less a week makes a huge difference.
§ Wash dishes without running water continuously
§ Brush teeth without water running continuously
§ Take a little shorter shower
§ Recycle trash (Santa Cruz requires)
§ Wear your clothes more than once before washing (I grew up with school clothes and play clothes and church clothes)
§ Use less soap/shampoo/toothpaste. I traveled for 1 year and learned very quickly how little you actually need to use to get the job done.
§ Pay rent on line – saves paper and postage.
§ Have a garage sale at least twice a year. My rule. If I haven’t used it for a year it goes. And, you know what I never miss it.
§ As light bulbs die, install energy efficient ones.
§ Lower water level in toilet tanks
§ Turn off lights when not needed.
§ Unplug counter appliances when not in use
I would argue that most of these Green things that we can all do will save us Real Green – Money. In today’s economy we can all find better uses for our Money than watching it go down the drain literally.
A great resource for FREE stuff is: www.freecycle.com
What Green ideas do you have? Share them and I will post and share with others.
Kathleen Richards
