In this day and age it’s important for both tenants and property managers, especially those in charge of multiple homes or buildings, to be conscious of their carbon footprint. Here at Rancho Mesa, we truly believe it is not very difficult to propose green incentives to your tenants, as many people are willing to invest the little bit of extra energy and meet you half-way. Ultimately, not only can you save yourself some extra cash, your residents will be thankful for knowing you’re invested in the well-being of their home and hopefully treat it as their own. Here are 5 easy suggestions for going green this season!
Energy Efficient Electronics
LED (light emitting diodes) bulbs have been making a big splash in the last few years. While they tend to cost a bit more than your average bulb, their overall life expectancy is significantly longer (up to 10 years!) and are considerably more energy efficient. Consider opting for LED bulbs in harder to reach areas where bulbs won’t need replacing as often if the costs are too great to equip the entire property.
Community Gardens & Easily Maintainable Plants
If space allows, consider designating an area for a small garden that residents can use to cultivate their own personal produce or vegetables. Not only can this improve the overall look of the property by adding some character, its another great way to get tenants invested in the property and inspire them to maintain it. The goal is that hopefully this motivation will also transfer to other areas of the home.
Opt for Green Cleaning Products
Along with the growing desire among the greater population for smarter, more efficient products has come a booming “green cleaning” industry. Many large manufacturers are emerging with their own green versions of cleaning products from spray’s to laundry detergent. Seventh Generation is the most prominent brand of green cleaning products and offers a large variety of options for just about any household cleaning need you may have. Your tenants will surely appreciate the fact that you are going the extra mile if you make a point to inform them as well.
Set Up An Useful, Efficient Recycling System
While many homes in California come equipped with a recycling bin for the weekly trash pick up, it’s astonishing how many multi-unit complexes lack an organized recycling system. Space permitting, consider putting individual recycling bins next to the catch-all dumpster where trash is usually disposed of. It may mean you have to take an extra trip to a designated facility once a week, however, if you make the effort to do so it will continually reinforce your commitment to providing the best possible living situation for your residents in addition to being an overall benefit to the environment.
Go Paperless
In this day and age, it’s getting easier and easier to set up an easy system for online billing. Whether through a direct transfer service like PayPal or another private service this great suggestion from Green Property Management can save time and headaches by streamlining the process of receiving payment for bills and monthly rent. It’s safe, secure, and allows you to easily manage your funds while saving a few redwoods in the process.
Going “green” isn’t going to happen overnight, and you shouldn’t feel like you need to rush out and revamp your entire property to be more eco-friendly right away. With these tips you can see how easy it is to make small changes over time that will strengthen your relationship with tenants as well as improve the environment around you, and that’s the goal we’re all trying to reach!
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