Green Property Managment
Becoming an environmentally-conscious property manager has become a socially popular and rewarding trend. The "going green" initiative has found much support among the new breed of apartment renters who seek clean, energy- and water-efficient, and environmentally-friendly living environments.
In response, property managers can find many ways to make their properties greener, using this initiative as an effective marketing tool to attract or retain customers. Here are three simple ways how a property manager can succeed with a cost-efficient marketing strategy for green building management.
First, property managers looking for simple ways to boost their image as green property managers should obtain professional certification for adoption of green building practices. The Green Building Council of Australia offers a "Green Start" certification programme, which assigns an industry-standard recognition for environmental efficiency in regard to site location, design, construction, and maintenance. Managers can also use the Council's educational resources to secure training for their staff in best practices in green building management.
Second, managers can improve their green reputation by improving energy-efficiency. This can be easily done by replacing incandescent lamps with more energy-efficient fluorescent or light emitting diodes (LED)-based bulbs. These lighting solutions are highly durable, so not only do they increase energy efficiency, but they also improve cost effectiveness of property management.
Especially useful are LED bulbs, which are 10 times more energy efficient than the incandescent and two times more efficient than the fluorescent bulbs. Replacing outdoor and indoor lightings will be a one-time expense that will result in substantial savings over the long run. What's more, managers may also be eligible for grants from the Green Building Fund ranging between $50,000 and $500,000 (or up to 50 per cent of project costs).
Energy efficiency can also be increased by using "Energy Star" appliances. In the existing buildings, managers can gradually replace conventional appliances with "Energy Star" devices, whereas in the new facilities they can install them right away.
Studies indicate that the effect of replacing these devices in each home has the same, environmentally beneficial effect as planting 2 trees. Again, managers can apply for grants from the Green Building Fund to reduce costs associated with this initiative.
Third, property managers can also promote their green push by maintaining gardens and yards in an environmentally conscious way. Using electric landscaping tools, such as electric mowers and leaf blowers, instead of the polluting ones is one way to project the image of a nature-friendly manager.
Conserving water resources through night-time, automated irrigation can also be an effective way to leave that impression. Where possible, managers can plant trees and other vegetation, especially the water self-sufficient kinds of plants. These efforts are often noticed by the environmentally-cognisant renters.
Implementing green building practices will represent be an inseparable part of the effort to create attractive, safe, and cost-efficient living environment for an increasingly green-conscious society. Green property management will thus become increasingly important as a differentiating factor in the highly competitive rental market.
Likewise, the green efforts will gain relevance in the government's policies as part of the efforts to reduce green gas emissions. All these factors suggest that the new trend is in favour of green building managers. Keeping up with that trend can be a cost effective, winning strategy for the long run.
