GreenPropertyManagement.com

What Lies Beneath

Posted on 05. Oct, 2012 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

I’ve seen many discarded on the street, curbs or sticking out of dumpsters. And I’ve owned or used my fair share as well. Yes, I’m talking about mattresses.

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Two Novices Take on the Attic

Posted on 27. Sep, 2012 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

When the Energy Squad assessed my home for inefficiencies a while back, it was noted that my attic insulation was a little sparse. Since then, adding more insulation has been on my to-do list. During the course of a busy year, however, the task got pushed out.

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Assigning Value to Trash

Posted on 26. Jul, 2012 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

Occasionally I catch people browsing my recycling bins on the curb in search of aluminum cans. One such individual dressed in a business suit drove up to my recycling bins – and others on the block – to harvest cans.

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Paving the Way to Greener Projects

Posted on 12. Jun, 2012 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

Green isn’t a really a destination so much as a journey. When CFLs first hit the mainstream market, many folks scoffed at the higher cost, the funny shape and the inconvenience of special recycling.

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Modern Gleaners

Posted on 29. Feb, 2012 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

You’re probably familiar with The Gleaners (Des glaneuses), Millet’s famous painting of women gleaning a field of grain after harvest. The women in the painting aren’t likely members of the farmer’s family and they aren’t helping with the harvest either. But they are valuable members of society fulfilling an important function: Making use of what’s been left behind.

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Shop Locally, Think Sustainably, and Manage Environmentally

Posted on 08. Feb, 2012 by Marc Courtenay.

These are mainly good times for property managers. The number of new residents needing rental housing is increasing, rents are rising, and vacancies are filling up. On top of that we learned today (11/10/11) that the average rate on 30-year fixed mortgages fell below 4 percent for just the second time in history. Freddie Mac said the rate on the 30-year fixed loan fell to 3.99 percent, down from 4 percent last week. Five weeks ago, it dropped to a record low of 3.94 percent, according to the National Bureau of Economic Research.

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Backyard Chickens

Posted on 27. Jan, 2012 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

One of the perks of my last apartment in California was access to seven hens. Really, the perk had more to do with the eggs the chickens produced, but the thought of interacting with hens was strangely thrilling. I’d never been around them before and I was extremely curious. I imagined making my way to the coop with an egg basket tucked under my arm.

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An Environmentally Responsible Move-Out List

Posted on 29. Dec, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

You’re not the only one making wish lists this time of year. Here’s one for your residents to check twice to make sure their next move-out is environmentally responsible. Or, should a tenant leave you with a move-out mess, this handy list will help you navigate the detritus responsibly. Thank goodness for security deposits.

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6 Green Ideas for Your Residents

Posted on 02. Nov, 2011 by Nora Betz.

Property managers can find ways to green their offices and green their properties in order to attract ideal residents. After all, you want the kind of residents who will respect their interior and exterior environment, believe in a minimal impact way of life, and are likely to build a sense of community. These environmentally friendly folks may be looking for new ideas on going green.

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The Aesthetics of Recycling

Posted on 19. Oct, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

What comes to mind when you hear the word recycling? Do you ever think of anything more aesthetic than an iconic plastic recycling bin?

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Sustainable University 101

Posted on 12. Oct, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

What do college campuses generate? Students. And what do students need? Rental housing.

This is certainly not news but what you might not know is that college and university campuses nationwide are implementing strategies to be more sustainable.

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Rethinking the Toilet

Posted on 26. Sep, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

Did you know the earliest form of today’s flush toilet first emerged in 1596? And while ordinary toilets today do what they are primarily designed to do – that is, flush waste away from wherever you are to a treatment plant far, far away – mainstream flush toilets haven’t undergone truly significant innovative retooling in quite some time. Meanwhile, they continue to flush about 4.8 billion gallons of water every single day in the U.S.

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Window Treatments: A Green Investment

Posted on 16. Sep, 2011 by Nora Betz.

It is good to prepare properties for the upcoming winter months and residents can learn simple tips to keeping their utility bills down this year. According to the US Department of Energy, properly selected and installed window coverings can save you up to 33% in heating and cooling costs.

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The 21-Day Recycling Challenge

Posted on 11. Aug, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

If your office or home environments don’t currently have a system for recycling, now is a fantastic time to develop one. Let’s start by conducting a little trash experiment. We’ll call it the 21-Day Challenge.

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Be a Hero with a Zero-Waste Event

Posted on 04. Aug, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

You’ve probably heard of zero-waste events before. You might have even attended one. They are just like regular events, except they produce exactly zero waste.

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Teaching an Old Dog a New Trick

Posted on 07. Jul, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

After reading about Max the Labrador, I’m thinking about introducing a new twist to our family walks. Max, who was rescued by his family from Orphans of the Storm, has learned how to recycle alongside his human family members. He actually fetches recyclable trash and helps his humans collect an enormous volume of litter by week’s end.

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Strong Resident, Strong Community

Posted on 29. Jun, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

My neighbor Sage comes to mind when I think about an ideal tenant. First off, she’s reliable, responsible and stable. She’s lived in her apartment for nearly seven years. She treats her rented space with the utmost respect — just as if it were her own. She organizes efforts to clean up litter, create street art and plant flowers. I figure that her landlord certainly must know a thing or two about enticing high-quality, socially responsible tenants.

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Turning Over a Green Leaf

Posted on 22. Jun, 2011 by Kimberly Madrigal.

By taking steps to reduce the water and energy used by homes, management may be able to extend the life of existing systems, attract conscientious, green renters and increase operating income.

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Going Green Is Not “All Or Nothing”

Posted on 08. Jun, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

Your green journey depends on many factors — job, family, hobbies, personal values, physical abilities and many more. In that way, eco-consciousness is more of a spectrum.

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Keeping it Clean with Green Cleaning Products

Posted on 01. Jun, 2011 by Nora Betz.

Today, many people are voting with their dollars and buying more green household cleaning products. Choosing green cleaners is a great way to go green at the property management office and in your home.

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Nuturing Tenant Loyalty

Posted on 04. May, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

Once you’ve found a great match between a tenant and your property, you want to nurture tenant loyalty. Here are a few easy-to-implement ideas that will help build a long and beautiful relationship.

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How Do You Vet Prospects for Eco-Consciousness?

Posted on 20. Apr, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

First contact launches the screening process – green or otherwise – of potential tenants. Use this initial exchange, be it in person, by phone or via email, to highlight a few key green assets of your property. Even if the prospect isn’t entirely green-savvy, they will be put on notice that green principles rate high with you.

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Smoke Free Property Management

Posted on 01. Apr, 2011 by Kimberly Madrigal.

Since 2006 municipalities across the country have been passing smoke-free ordinances. Some may set rigid timetables while others allow a percentage of smoking units, but they all have the same ultimate goal. To prohibit smoking indoors.

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Defining Green

Posted on 23. Mar, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

Green to me is more about personal responsibility, weighing my own needs against the needs of those around me and the planet and seeing the big picture.

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Calculating the Value of a Green Tenant

Posted on 16. Mar, 2011 by Jennifer Marcus Newton.

How do you calculate the value of an eco-conscious tenant? It goes well beyond a timely rent payment — a tenant can easily pay rent on time, while destroying your property from top to bottom.

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