As climate change continues to take a toll on the planet, it’s important to understand how industries like property management and development can and should adapt in order to cease contributing to the ongoing crises. There are many different ways to maximize sustainability and decrease a property’s carbon footprint, while at the same time increasing the quality of life for tenants. Below is a list of some of the most popular trends in sustainability for the coming year.
Offer Gardening Spaces to Your Residents
One of the many ways building owners and property managers can embrace eco-friendly living is by offering gardening space for their tenants. According to the National Institute of Health, gardening has been proven to increase a person’s happiness and overall well-being. Generally gardening and exposure to plants will help improve their quality of life, it also incentivizes them to stay longer because it allows them to invest in the property and it shows you care about them and their needs. It also increases the value of the property overall. If you don’t have a courtyard space, you can provide matching window boxes or create a rooftop garden.
Recycle Old Appliances
When it comes to remodeling your property, it’s really easy to just throw everything away. The eco-friendly option is to reduce, reuse and recycle wherever and whenever possible. When it comes to appliances, there are a number of options available. First, try calling the local waste management office and see if they offer local pick-up. You can also advertise your appliances on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist or Freecycle. With regard to any old wood or other used building materials, you can donate them to Habitat for Humanity or other non-profits.
Use Eco-Friendly Paints
One of the more innovative ways to make your property more sustainable is to use green paint. Not green as in the color, green as in good for the planet. Paint is an easy and affordable way to conserve energy and make your property more environmentally friendly. Right now, the best commercially available options are natural and milk paints. Natural paints are petroleum-free and contain compounds derived from plants and they don’t off-gas harmful chemicals. Milk paints use casein, a milk protein as well as lime.
(Fun fact: milk paints were the go-to interior paint choice for colonial Americans.)
Use Latex Paints
Latex paints are also a great option because they have low VOC and biocide levels. Of the three options, latex paints are the least safe but they are far and away a better choice than oil-based paints. It’s very important to remember that latex paint contains strong terpenes and should be handled with care.
A Paint That Mimics Nature!?
Did you know researchers at the University of Central Florida have developed a paint that mimics nature’s ability to create gorgeous colors and reflect life without absorbing heat? According to Science Advances, these colors are made from colorless materials that are arranged to reflect light in a specific way, therefore cooling the building off. One of the main drivers behind this research has been to reduce the amount of toxic chemicals working their way into people’s homes and bodies.
Whatever paint you choose, be sure to keep the room well-ventilated and wear a mask while painting for additional safety. When you maximize sustainability, you do your tenants and the planet a great service. To implement this, consider hiring a property management and maintenance company to do the heavy lifting.