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Sustainable Multifamily Goes Mainstream

Sustainable Multifamily Goes Mainstream

Apartment buildings are the perfect proving grounds for sustainable building design, benefitting renters and property owners alike. Today’s designers are incorporating sustainably-sourced building materials and green public areas into energy-efficient buildings that save tenants money. These forward-thinking sustainable multifamily properties are growing more popular each year with dedicated renters, and that’s positive news for occupancy rates and market value.

Green upgrades for everyone

The best recycling in the building industry is re-using an existing property and expertly leveraging energy efficiency upgrades and healthy building design. Replacement windows and a move to LED lighting are easy and inexpensive ways for property owners to begin. When it’s time to upgrade exteriors, insulation, roofs, or interiors, choosing sustainably-sourced materials that contribute to a healthy home, and the planet, is easier than ever. If you already own an investment property, upgrading to a more sustainable multifamily property may be easier than you think. 

Next step: Passive design

Naturally, as sustainable building standards tighten, builders are challenged to outdo themselves as they now strive for passively designed buildings. Passive design uses solar heat gains to heat and adequate shade and ventilation to cool the living space. Along with insulation and structure sealing, or encapsulation, requirements, this industry trend hasn’t been affordable until recently. 

New building projects using passive design don’t have high-end surfaces, but energy savings and indoor air quality are becoming the most popular industry trends. 

Creating sustainable multifamily spaces is possible with our help

Energy-conserving shared walls come with some challenges unique to sustainable multifamily properties. If you don’t know where to start when incorporating some environmentally friendly improvements into your property, contact Class A Management. Our managers can address the sustainability of your property and help you conserve a lot of energy, reducing overall management costs and increasing your returns. 

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LED Bulbs Replace Mercury-laden CFLs

LED Bulbs Replace Mercury-laden CFLs

Those curly-looking light bulbs that were the “wave of the future” just a few years ago will soon go the way of the dinosaur. New technology has made light-emitting diode (LED) lighting the trendiest energy-saving bulb. Brighter than CFLs and containing no toxic heavy metals, LED bulbs are becoming the more affordable green alternative to incandescent and CFL light bulbs.

Advances in lighting slow to take off

Just a year or two ago, you could expect to pay $10 for a single LED bulb. That expense was a non-starter for most property owners, who opted for the less-reliable CFL. With a shorter life span and pesky mercury, CFL bulbs proved to be less of a sustainable lighting choice than developers had hoped, but they were cheap. 

When they burnt out or were broken (yikes), the responsibility to replace them fell on tenants. They mostly opted for the now-obsolete and heat-generating incandescent bulbs. Incandescent bulbs cost less and don’t have mercury, but they also raise the electric bill.

LED Bulbs are more affordable than ever

Far from $10-20 a pop these days, energy-sipping LED bulbs are brighter and cheaper than ever. Bulk contractor pack prices for 60-watt-equivalent LED bulbs are approaching traditional incandescent costs. Plus, they’re well worth a little extra investment. 

An LED bulb uses 40 percent less energy than even a CFL. It will also last 20 times longer, sometimes many years, and it doesn’t harbor toxins that could harm your tenants. The best light bulbs of 2023 also allow tenants to customize their space and provide the convenience and safety benefits of smart technology. 

Find sustainable solutions with Class A Management

The experts at Class A Management have an eye for details. We know that some solutions to big problems, like energy bills, could be as small as a light bulb. Investigate the benefits of LED solutions, then hire Class A Management to maximize the return on easy to implement updates. 

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5 Simple Ways to Attract Tenants Using Green Tactics

5 Simple Ways to Attract Tenants Using Green Tactics

Many property owners and managers get understandably nervous when they hear words like sustainability and going green. In the years following the birth of this movement, the available enviro-friendly options were anything but cheap. The focus was on insulation, new windows, HVAC units, and other high-ticket improvements. Times have changed. Green apartment living is finally doable. Many green options serve as enticing ways to attract tenants

Sustainable ways to attract tenants 

Now, with minimal effort and even less money, you can ready your apartment complex or rental property to attract those tenants with a flair for the greener things in life. Here is a list of small actions you can take to achieve this goal:

  1. Energy-efficient lighting. Energy-efficient light bulbs may not seem as though they are capable of significant effects, but the energy they save adds up. LEDs last 25 times longer than traditional bulbs and use up to 90% less energy. Equipping units with these light bulbs, advertising that you’ve done so, and encouraging tenants to continue the practice will make an impression on these eco-savvy consumers.
  2. Recycling services. If the community offers a recycling program, inform tenants and prospects. If it does not, you can easily create a complex-only program by setting up marked receptacles at a central location and then arranging for pick-up through a local service or by delivering the items yourself. Recycling should include plastics, aluminum, paper, and even electronics.
  3. Community garden spaces. Community gardens offer tenants a way to get involved and connect. An added green living bonus is these spaces also provide sustainable food options for the complex. 
  4. Maintain plumbing. The water waste from a seemingly small drip can be a significant problem. Ensure you’re having the property’s plumbing checked on at least an annual basis for any potential issues. Educate tenants about their responsibility for reporting leaks and prepping for weather changes.
  5. Eco-friendly landscaping. Paying careful attention to the type of landscaping you choose not only has the potential to save money on maintenance, but it can also be an eco-friendly solution. Choosing gravel or recycled rubber over grass for common areas is a great start, as it cuts back on mowing and watering. Choosing climate-appropriate shrubs over flowers will also help keep water usage down as they need less to thrive.

Taking sustainable steps isn’t always plainly visible to current or potential tenants. If sustainability is meaningful for your property and prospective tenants, your property manager should ensure that information is front and center.

Make your property marketing count

There are many ways to attract tenants. Class A Management works with you to identify and attract the right tenants for your property. Our team of industry professionals ensures your marketing materials and website have specialty call-out areas to highlight the features that make your property alluring. Are you taking steps to make your properties more eco-friendly and sustainable? Make sure your tenants know! 

Contact us today to connect with a property management professional who can help implement the exact strategy to attract your ideal tenants.