Apartment Blog

If you’re like me you know the benefits of going green. We preach it all the time in our Apartments Going Green articles; it helps save the earth’s resources and the green in your wallet (money). But what are some unique reasons, perhaps some you didn’t think of before, for going green? Well, I turned to my favorite place for answers, Yahoo Answers and Google, to find some. They require some creative thinking, but I think you’ll like the reasons we’ve come up with…

1. It’s fun! You can totally make a game of recycling with a group of your friends or even a competition to see who the best is.
2. It’s empowering. Can you imagine the kind of high you’ll feel from helping the environment? You will have a since of pride that you are helping change the world for the better!
3. You’ll resemble your favorite celebrity! Many celebrities are taking the world by storm to try and get people more involved in environmentally friendly ways.
4. You’ll be viewed as stylish and trendy. The ‘hot’ thing right now is to ‘go green’. Many stores are printing t-shirts with phrases about going green, making recyclable bags with fun slogans, etc. You’ll be ‘in’ to your friends & family.
5. Green is a cool color that looks good on you! Many going green items are in fact green in color. When you think of going green, you think of Mother Nature, which is green. And, as we mentioned earlier, it helps save you some green in your wallet. This fabulous color will be all around you, and why not? You look good in green!!

Last year I wrote about the Bottled Water Debate and the stats about how consuming water from packaged water bottles was bad for the environment, you can read it here. When I was sitting on my plane from Miami to Atlanta, delayed from my glorious vacation in Key West, Florida, I stumbled on an article in the Delta Sky Magazine regarding American’s love affair with water bottles. It goes through the trends of Americans and their water bottle consumption.

We went from drinking from water fountains at schools, homes and parks to spending almost $6 billion in water bottles alone in 2007. It all started with beautiful green French water bottles that arrived to the United States in 1976. From there the trend materialized. Many more makers started entering the field and sleeker designs appeared; sales skyrocketed and our landfills have increased in size.

Though there was a ripple in water bottle sales in the mid 80s, sales didn’t actually take a decline until last year. I’m pleased to say that according to The Nielson Company, total U.S. sales (excluding Walmart) in bottled water from 2007 to 2008 dropped 3.6%.  This can be attributed to many things such as the economy; no one wants to spend money on bottled water when there is perfectly safe drinking water at home! The ‘going green’ movement is also another motivator. Americans have become much more concerned with the environment and the ‘carbon foot print’ we leave on it. In response, companies are coming out with ‘eco-shape’ bottles, reducing emissions in their manufacturing processes as well as with home purification systems.

Even with a drop in sales, water bottles will always have a presence in America.  According to Tom Lauria, vice president of communications for the International Bottled Water Association, this leeway extends for emergencies like Hurricane Katrina and the need of joggers. Or, “You’re on an airplane. You can’t just go to the tap.” There is a time and place for everything and the key is always moderation! In places where tap is accessible, it should be used. And when it’s needed, bottled water is an option.

So for my flight back home, my bottled water is suitable. But when I return home to Norfolk, Virginia tap water it is!

Source: “Has Our Love Affair with Bottled Water Gone Tepid?”By Jennifer Vogel. http://www.deltaskymag.com/ May 2009

I had an interesting conversation with Mike Whaling and Lisa Trosien on Twitter last week regarding the benefits for apartment communities going green during this economy.  A question was posed whether renters will actually see the benefit of apartment properties going green and therefore, pay the extra premiums associated with it.  According to the key findings from a Conscious Consumer Report (2009), 51% polled said they are “willing to pay more” for ‘green’ products. Confirming that study, Apartments.com published a survey stating “apartment communities that offer environmentally-friendly amenities are more likely to turn undecided renters into residents. Additionally, more than half of renters surveyed indicated they would take an apartment community’s commitment to environmental issues into consideration.” However, 66% polled in the Conscious Consumer Report said that price is very important in the purchase decision, implying that price can be the deciding factor.

Therefore, management companies that want to go ‘green’ need to consider factors that will help their bottom line in addition to the prospective renter.  You may ask, as Mike did, how can the bottom line in a community with sub-metered utilities be helped? Well, I called the one person I knew would know; that was my father, Scott Bucheister.  He is a salesman at Coastal Insulation and was recently certified by Earth Craft Virginia. He commented that “going green can have a direct impact for property manager’s finances by saving money on energy and maintenance costs.” Curious in what ways? Here are a few he mentioned:
 

Solar Lighting or CFL Bulbs:
The benefits of using solar lighting on an apartment property are abundant. First off, it has low energy costs. It has very little maintenance. And it comes from a renewable resource as it is powered by the sun. Another benefit is that solar lights continue working even if there has been a power outage. Because the energy isn’t coming off of an electrical grid, power outages make no difference. Installing solar lighting for your landscaping needs, wall lights, security lights, etc. around the apartment community will save money. Compact Fluorescent Light (CFL) bulbs will also prove beneficial to properties in common areas such as community centers, unit hallways, management and maintenance offices, etc.

Low Flow Water Devices:
Water and money can be saved by installing low-flow water devices around the apartment community. In community laundry mats, replace old washers with front-loading ENERGY-STAR washers that conserve water. In the community center install faucet aerators on your bathroom taps. Replace old toilets with new low-flow or ultra-low flow toilets or, in the kitchen, replace old dishwashers with ENERGY-STAR dishwashers that conserve water.

Xeriscaping & WeatherTrak Irrigation Systems:
Xeriscaping refers to landscaping and gardening in ways that reduce or eliminate the need for supplemental irrigation.  The specific plants used in xeriscaping depend upon the climate. Some common plants used in Western xeriscaping are agave, cactus, lavender, juniper, sedum and thyme. Advantages of xeriscaping include lower water bills, less time and work needed for maintenance, and there is little or no lawn mowing (saves energy).  Xeriscape plants, along with proper bed design, tends to take full advantage of rainfall and when water restrictions are implemented, xeriscape plants will tend to survive, while more traditional plants may be unable to adapt. “If you think about it, most apartment communities completely redo their landscaping every year with the flower beds, lawns, trees, etc. If they use native plants that are drought resistant they don’t have to replant every year to attract new renters,” said Mr. Bucheister. “In fact, I was so impressed with the idea of xeriscaping that I actually implemented this in my garden at home! It’s extremely convenient as I have little to no maintenance compared to beforehand.”

Besides xeriscaping, there are other irrigation systems that are environmentally friendly. While ordinary irrigation systems overwater your landscape, leaving you with high water bills, WeatherTRAK® smart irrigation systems help you save water, money and time by eliminating overwatering.  Drawing on information delivered wirelessly from 40,000 weather stations, the irrigation is automatically scheduled based on individual landscaping needs and local weather conditions. And catching rainwater using a rain barrel or other rainwater harvesting system can be used to water outdoor plants.

Energy efficient appliances, windows and light bulbs in apartments tend to help out the renters, yes. They can also be a great selling point in convincing a prospective renter to live at a community. And in my opinion should be done by all apartment communities. However, in the current economic situation property managers should also incorporate environmentally friendly ideas that will help their bottom line as well. Do you agree?

The importance of Earth Day has evolved dramatically from its origins in April 1970. This movement began in the U.S., but grew into a world-wide event in 1990. The now global movement was spearheaded by Wisconsin Senator, Gaylord Nelson, who began advocating the importance of preserving the environment in 1962. Interestingly enough, during its infancy, industrial pollution was not a top priority for Earth Day observers. It was to stop the deterioration of the environment. But soon, groups fighting against oil spills, polluting factories and power plants, raw sewage, toxic dumps, pesticides, freeways, the loss of wilderness, and the extinction of wildlife realized they shared common principles.  And that marked the beginning of the modern environmental movement that is today.

There are many ways to participate in improving the environment. We all know the three key elements, reduce, reuse and recycle. I received this interesting email yesterday about buying and recycling appliances. Many companies and vendors are offering new and innovative ways to clean our earth. For example, Best Buy has a wide variety of Energy Star appliances; appliances that meet firm energy efficient guidelines. Some of these appliances include washers, air conditioners, TVs, laptops and more. These types of appliances are located in apartments around the nation and can be modified to help the environment.

Best Buy also offers a recycling program where people can drop off most old electronics. Free removal and recycling are included with the purchase and delivery of a new product. There is even a company within the Hampton Roads area in Virginia that does this: E-cycling Central. But if you’re in the market for an upgrade or if you just want to add some style to your apartment, Best Buy would be a good place to start! Save the world and set apartment trends at the same time!

Source: Wikipedia.com

We have noted in several of our previous posts how the tough economic times are proving difficult for businesses, but we really haven’t dived into the hardships affecting consumers…..you! Businesses are struggling because consumers are feeling the squeeze of the economy. You are forced to reevaluate your finances and reduce your disposable income.  In many instances that means staying home and going out less frequently.

We want to provide you with some resources to turn the negative into a positive. We’ve posted many blogs that can help you when your budget has been constricted; you just need to know where to find them!

Here’s a list to help you figure out how you want to nest during these economic times. Your home is your place of refuge against the world, and it’s time you started celebrating it!

• So you can’t go out to dinner, then stay at home and cook! We’ve found terrific recipes that our own staff has tried and LOVED! Entrees, side dishes and desserts galore! To make it appear like a night out, eat at the dinning room table with the television off and low lighting.
• Miss date night with your significant other? We’ve even come up with ideas for romantic gestures in your apartment, which include a soothing bubble bath, picnic on the floor or movie night!
• Have some creative juices flowing, but not a lot of $$ to spend? Then check out our amazing ‘How-To’ tips, decorating w/constrictions and low cost decorating ideas to make the most of your time spent at home.
• Need a gift for a friend? We’ve posted a few ideas for homemade gifts and cards! You’ll get bonus tips for being thoughtful and creative.
• You’re bound to have a few friends that are in the same predicament as you. So why not invite them over for a group party? We’ve posted tips on how to throw a party that is eco-friendly, which includes reducing money!! For entertainment you could play games and the dinner/dessert could be pot-luck so no one is forking over a lot of dough!

There are two things to remember for getting through these times: One - you are not alone. There are many others going through the same situation as you. Two -it will end. It may not seem like it, but there is light at the end of the tunnel. You just have to wait it out. Until then, take a look at these tips/ideas for staying at home and remain optimistic. When one door closes, another one opens……so decorate it!!

The very color of St. Patrick’s Day happens to coincide with the same color as reduce, reuse and recycle…. GREEN! So it’s only fitting that this St. Patrick’s Day you follow the second tip from our ‘10 New Years Resolutions for Renters’ blog by ‘going green’.

Did you know that 45 tons of used discs end up in the landfill every month where they will never degrade? There is a great organization called Discs for Dogs, a SPCA program, that uses your unwanted discs to help save animals. It’s a win-win!

This is an AMAZING way to go green this St. Patrick’s Day and help out a great cause.  You can mail in your disks for free and the SPCA will sell them for $1 each and all proceeds will go to help provide better living for sheltered animals.So why don’t you go through your unwanted disks (CDS and DVDS) and mail them in. You have a chance to really help out a lot of animals! An added bonus is you’ll be following our third tip from our ‘10 New Years Resolutions for Renters’ blog by getting organized!