It’s a national trend. And it’s good for your homeowners. Eco-chic building management combines health and care for the planet under your property’s roof.  Follow these easy tips and you’ll find that being green these days doesn’t have to disrupt your residents or cost your association an arm and a leg. 

• Read cleaning product labels – Buy and use products that contain botanicals, enzymes, and labeled biodegradable. Throw out cleaners that contain the words “toxic, corrosive, dangerous or poisonous chemicals” on the label. Try less toxic cleaners first and use strong chemicals only as a last resort.
• Ban chemical air fresheners – Find the source of an odor and get rid of it. Frequently a bad smell is caused by water intrusion. Find it as soon as possible and repair the leak and dry out any wet building products within 48 hours. If more time has elapsed since the onset of water damage, replace damaged building products to insure against mold growth.  If there is an unpleasant odor that is not building threatening (ie: cooking odors), buy a product containing zeolite (naturally occurring volcanic mineral that absorbs odors) to freshen a hallway.
• Use integrated pest management (IPM) – Eliminating moisture problems in your building will also help keep pest populations down. Seal up holes and cracks in building foundations to keep pests out. Use the least toxic pesticide first to see if it solves the problem. If you hire a pest control company make sure that they use IPM techniques and are licensed in your state. 
• Get a hygrometer (know your p0 factor) – Keeping property humidity levels under 50% will keep mold growth at bay. Spend the money annually to keep all building fans and common area HVAC tuned up and in excellent working condition. In your next newsletter, remind residents to run bath and kitchens fans to remove excess moisture after cooking and showering.
• Replace a worn out vacuum with a HEPA vacuum cleaner – HEPA filters do a better job of keeping dust, dirt and allergens inside the vacuum bag instead of blowing them from one area to another.

• Daylight high traffic areas like entries and atriums – Installing new roller shade blinds made from a synthetic mesh keeps the heat out in summer and cold out in winter but lets light filter in.
  
• Choose indoor plants for common areas that clean the air – Spider plants are the best indoor air cleaners – they can remove toxic chemicals in your building. A note of caution: over-watering any plant can cause mold growth and create an unhealthy situation, so hydrate plants with care.
  
• Luxuriate in natural fiber furniture for indoor common spaces – Organic cotton or leather sofas and chairs make a party room or entry stylish and durable. Sustainably harvested wood outdoor furniture poolside will weather the elements and last for years.
  
• Use low VOC paints – VOCs or volatile organic compounds can toxify your indoor air. Low or no VOC paints are available in almost every color and brand.

• Purchase Energy Star rated appliances for common area kitchens –  Refrigerators with this E.P.A. backed rating can save you up to one third on your energy bill.
• Use long burning compact fluorescents in the most used light fixtures – Fluorescents are up to four times more efficient than conventional bulbs and last 5 times longer. So change over common area lighting to compact fluorescents to save money and trips to the store for bulbs.
• Sign up for renewable energy – Electric providers all over the country are selling the wind and other renewables to households and business. Sign up your common area lighting with your utility provider and know that you’re not adding to our energy security issues.

• Make organic yard care an association priority – Organic soil and fertilizer will keep your plants green and healthy naturally and eliminate the need for toxic herbicides that can harm people and pets.
• Install native plants – These plants decrease turf, add visual interest and reduce mowing. Natives are drought resistant. They choke out weeds and are inexpensive to maintain. Beautify your grounds and reduce the need for chemical applications and watering.
• Reduce watering waste – Regularly monitor common area irrigation systems to keep them in good working order. Repair or replace faulty sprinkler heads and system leaks immediately. Use leak detection technology and rain gauges to limit water waste.

Don’t let simple earth–friendliness get lost in the shuffle. Your homeowners and the planet will thank you.  Soon you’ll realize it’s easy being green.