As concerns over second hand smoke arise, many building owners have decided to put policies in place to make their communities smoke free. Many new developments are opening as smoke free communities, but it is possible to convert an existing smoking community to a smoke free community. In addition to eliminating concerns from residents over…
Author: Lori Hanson
Does it make a difference if just one person recycles?
Have you ever wondered if one person can really have an impact on the environment if they recycle? Many people tend to think that the actions of one individual do not have that much impact, and that recycling is only beneficial if everyone does it. Well, that is actually not the case. The actions of…
Walk Scores Explained
With some Internet Listing Services and property websites now including a community’s walk score, its important to understand just what this means and how it impacts the marketability of the community. There is even an app that potential renters can download that allows them to find apartments in their desired area based on walk score….
What “Green Features” actually matter to residents?
Our industry typically has a lot of discussion surrounding what type of “green features” residents want in their homes, and more specifically, how much they are willing to pay for these features. While the verdict may still somewhat be out on how much renters will actually pay for any given “green feature”, there are some…
Simple Tips for Energy Conservation to share with your residents!
As apartment managers, we have the opportunity to speak with our residents and provide them with information relating to conserving energy in their home. Residents can often mistakenly assume that there is nothing they can personally do to conserve energy in their home, since they do not own the apartment or the building. We have…
What is a “Green Lease”?
Have you heard of a “green lease”? A green lease is just like a regular apartment lease, but it outlines specific terms that residents and landlords must adhere to surrounding the community’s sustainability policies. Green leases are now included in top multifamily industry trends. The article below shows green leases within their Top 5…
Can we learn from the hotel industry?
I travel a lot for business, and I am often struck by the similarities between the apartment industry and the hotel industry. I’m constantly noticing every detail at hotels and I like to find new things within the hospitality industry that I can bring back and implement at the apartment communities I manage. One thing…
Zero Net Energy Communities – Say What?!
You may have heard the term “Zero New Energy” (ZNE) or “Net Zero” used to describe apartment communities recently. Perhaps you heard this and were thinking to yourself, “say what?!” Simply stated, a Zero Net Energy community or building is one that, on an annual basis, produces as much or more energy than it consumes….
Tying Sustainability and Efficiency Into Daily Operations
As industry professionals responsible for managing utility programs and ancillary services departments, we all tend to think about “big picture” and “high level” items. However, it is important to consider what our sites are doing on a daily operational level to support and reinforce some of the larger sustainability and cost savings initiatives that we…
Multifamily Property Landscaping – Friend or Foe?
As an environmental and sustainability enthusiast and operator of multifamily assets, you probably have a good pulse on efforts you can make at your communities to increase efficiency and make them more “green.” However, have you paid much attention lately to your landscaping company? Are they truly your partner in running the most efficient and…