By Timothy Upshur
With approximately 80 million Gen Y-ers expected to flood the market, an increasing number of multifamily properties see how green amenities can serve as a vital selling point to attract environmentally conscious renters and are making budget friendly green investments to use green amenities as a marketing tool. Today’s renters are savvier and more conscious of how the way they live effects the environment, so it could pay off in the long run to proceed carefully when selecting materials and finishes for apartment units.
According to the US Green Building Council, the building of LEED certified residential communities are ranking in at number three to commercial office ventures and higher education projects. Smaller, more traditional property owners that don’t have the resources for months of sustainability remodeling or huge green investments are making moves for an environmental difference through the conservation of resources, support of “green” actions and/or offering sustainable solutions that won’t “break the bank. Influential industry publications like Multi-Housing News encourages apartment communities, suppliers and developers with their Excellence Awards for green initiatives.
WhiteGloves Waste is an onsite residential community program geared at rallying tenants into recycling. Without any financial investment from the property manager, the property can offer renters a time saving amenity with a feel good stamp of approval that increases occupancy through market advantage leasing that builds NOI and increases tenant retention. In an industry where asset value and ancillary income play a major role in success, collecting recyclables and co-mingled trash 5 days a week from butler bins strategically placed outside each tenant unit offers property management a risk-free way to increase both.
According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, multifamily dwellings account for 15.6% of energy consumption. Solar powered trash compactors can reduce energy consumption by 50 – 70%. With the decreasing amount of space at landfills and global warming at the tips of everyone’s tongues trash may be at the top of the heap when it comes to sustainable solutions, but there are other ways that the multifamily pros can work to decrease the waste of our natural resources.
Lighting is not only a way to reduce your carbon footprint, but a huge opportunity for savings. Retrofitting obsolete T12 fluorescent lights with state-of-the-art T8s and replacing 60-watt incandescent light in closets and storage areas with 13-watt compact fluorescent lights can help properties reduce their environmental impact. A prepaid recycling container roundtrip shipping program for fluorescent bulbs and batteries is a great option for disposal.
More communities are using cradle-to-cradle products, which are recycled into new carpet over and over to reduce the large amounts of carpet and flooring that goes into landfills every year. Zero-VOC premium quality, non-toxic, fast curing paints and primers are a more environmentally friendly option to help homeowners and property managers preserve and protect their environment.
The basic programmable thermostat is a great example of a way to offer renters the opportunity to increase energy efficiency with an automated approach to reducing heating, cooling and electricity bills. The at-a-glance energy usage information allows users to pick from various automated energy use reduction programs, and even offers remote control of heating, cooling, lighting and appliances in the rental unit.
As the CEO of WhiteGloves Waste, Timothy Upshur is responsible for running all facets of the business. Timothy has a proven executive management track record and over 10 years of experience driving sales growth in the commercial building industry. Prior to joining WhiteGloves Waste, Timothy was the District Manager at Gardner Bender, responsible for developing marketing strategies and increasing sales in the Northeast region. At Gardner Bender, he built a rapport with distributors in respective territories, led the company in creating unique and profitable promotions and increased market share. Previously, he served as a Regional Account Manager at Black & Decker/Dewalt, where he was an integral part of business development. Timothy also served as a District Sales Manager at Rex Commercial Tools & Senco products where he helped built the Tyrex brand in the Southeast territory and was recognized for his sales forecasting abilities. He earned a BS degree at Purdue University.