14 Apr 2011 By rementor.com
April is officially “Earth Month” and Friday of this week marks the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. I did some “Q&D” (Quick and Dirty) research and came up with the 5 easiest ideas your tenants can get on the Green bandwagon. The light bulb has long been the graphic symbol for a bright idea, so lets start right there with one of the biggest wastes of energy on the plant… the antiquated incandescent light bulb.
1. Kick out Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison may have invented the familiar bubble-shaped incandescent light, but it’s time he got the LED out. Incandescent bulbs are notorious wasters of energy. If you pay the electric utilities at your building, you have an even greater incentive to make the switch.
2. Grow a green thumb
Indoor plants clean the air. More plants mean cleaner air. Your model apartment should make good use of them because it drops the hint that green is beautiful and welcome.
3. Use the dishwasher
Dishwashers use less water and less soap. Plus, they are more sanitary. And when you’re finished in the kitchen, turn off the light. It is a massive waste of energy to light space that nobody is using.
4. Be a bag-free person
Instead of accepting plastic bags from retailers, bring your own tote. Many supermarkets sell tote bags and you may even be able to strike up a deal with a green-friendly retailer near your apartment complex and get free tote bags for your tenants. (There’s an added value: when you carry a tote you tend to buy only what you need because you carry less. So now you’re not only saving the planet, you’re saving money.)
5. Change by degree
Adjust the thermostat to be one degree cooler in winter and one degree warmer in summer. “Spring ahead; fall back” refers to changing the clocks, but now it can also refer to the thermostat. If you like it set at 72 in the summer, set it ahead to 73. If you like 76 in the winter, set it back to 75.The temperature difference is negligible, but multiply that slight energy reduction by tens of millions of thermostats around the globe one degree makes a big difference.
April is officially “Earth Month” and Friday of this week marks the 41st anniversary of Earth Day. I did some “Q&D” (Quick and Dirty) research and came up with the 5 easiest ideas your tenants can get on the Green bandwagon. The light bulb has long been the graphic symbol for a bright idea, so lets start right there with one of the biggest wastes of energy on the plant… the antiquated incandescent light bulb.
1. Kick out Thomas Edison
Thomas Edison may have invented the familiar bubble-shaped incandescent light, but it’s time he got the LED out. Incandescent bulbs are notorious wasters of energy. If you pay the electric utilities at your building, you have an even greater incentive to make the switch.
2. Grow a green thumb
Indoor plants clean the air. More plants mean cleaner air. Your model apartment should make good use of them because it drops the hint that green is beautiful and welcome.
3. Use the dishwasher
Dishwashers use less water and less soap. Plus, they are more sanitary. And when you’re finished in the kitchen, turn off the light. It is a massive waste of energy to light space that nobody is using.
4. Be a bag-free person
Instead of accepting plastic bags from retailers, bring your own tote. Many supermarkets sell tote bags and you may even be able to strike up a deal with a green-friendly retailer near your apartment complex and get free tote bags for your tenants. (There’s an added value: when you carry a tote you tend to buy only what you need because you carry less. So now you’re not only saving the planet, you’re saving money.)
5. Change by degree
Adjust the thermostat to be one degree cooler in winter and one degree warmer in summer. “Spring ahead; fall back” refers to changing the clocks, but now it can also refer to the thermostat. If you like it set at 72 in the summer, set it ahead to 73. If you like 76 in the winter, set it back to 75.The temperature difference is negligible, but multiply that slight energy reduction by tens of millions of thermostats around the globe one degree makes a big difference.
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