10 Practical Ways to Green Your Building: A Print 'Em Out Checklist
Oct. 28, 2009 — "Going green" has become an accepted and even mainstream part of apartment buildings — with co-op / condo boards and savvy managing agents playing major roles in the movement. Boards not only have the ability to make a positive impact in their common areas, but to the Earth itself, and has a responsibility to educate and encourage shareholders and unit-owners to conserve resources.
John R. Math, owner of the 21-year-old real estate and property management firm Associated Property Management in Lake Worth, Fla., is a clear-eyed rationalist who offers experienced, practical tips on how boards can have that sort of impact while, sometimes quickly, sometimes in the long run, saving money.
His tips, complete with links to articles that can instruct you on practical implementation:
1. Conduct an energy audit of your community with the assistance of a qualified professional or of agencies like NYSERDA, to identify additional ways to save energy and money for your association.
2. Replace routine paper mailings with e-mail communication.
3. Develop a community website for access to association documents and announcements.
4. Choose products made from sustainable materials for projects such as roof, siding, and deck replacement and for individual homeowners' use.
5. Reduce water consumption with rain sensors and flow meters.
6. Use compact fluorescent bulbs for common area lighting.
7. Upgrade older systems such as those used for heating, cooling and laundry to more cost-effective, energy efficient models.
8. Outline preferred locations for solar energy devices and other energy saving devices like retractable window awnings.
9. Consider installing a green roof, with vegetation that provides natural cooling and insulation, absorbs carbon monoxide and releases oxygen
10. Experiment with a green cleaning product. If it works to your satisfaction, try another.
John R. Math, owner of Associated Property Management , is a Florida real estate veteran with more than 35 years experience in community-association management. This checklist is adapted and expanded from his article " 10 Things a Community Association Can Do to Go Green & Make a Difference ," in the APM News Express online newsletter.