Environmental Consciousness. Politicians talk about it, regulators embrace it, and Associations are affected by it. No matter whether you believe that climate change is manmade or not, reducing energy use and going “green” is good for both the environment and the budget of associations. It is also a trending topic in communities everywhere.
Goal: Save the Planet
New standards and regulations are being talked about and established now more than ever. Like a lot of other trends, one state may adopt certain standards, and others often follow. Therefore, we expect that many states will be passing laws with goals of reducing energy and water consumption.
One example is California, a long-standing front-runner in energy efficiency standards. In 1974, it founded the California Energy Commission, the first state to establish an energy regulation commission. In 2008, it adopted changes to legal code with goals to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020.
Another example is New York. On April 18, 2019, the state passed a group of laws called the Climate Mobilization Act. Buildings not meeting the new standards will be fined, and all new construction and roof replacements must install environmentally friendly roofs.
Effect: Reduce Waste & Expense
The benefits of upgrading inefficient systems to newer, energy-saving equipment are two-fold: first, it reduces energy and water consumption, which is good for the environment. Second, it reduces the costs of operating these systems, which is good for your association and its owners. But what about the expense of the upgrades themselves?
Cash-poor Associations, whether HOA, coop, or condo, might not have the available funds to retrofit their inefficient systems. Even with government incentives, it becomes quite expensive to replace boilers, irrigation, toilets, elevators, and roofs. Payback in efficiency can range from 1 to 20 years, depending on the upgrade.
Easy Upgrades
One of the quickest paybacks with the best results is replacing light fixtures in common areas with more energy efficient, motion-sensing varieties.
Many boards and homeowners may give you some pushback when it comes to motion sensors. Why would they? Well, for homeowners in particular, reasons include the fear of dark hallways, basements, community rooms, or parking garages etc. And for a lot of boards, fielding potential complaints is enough to cause some resistance. For either group, it’s always easier to just leave things as is.
But there are some great reasons to overcome those objections, including:
Payback time of 2-4 years
Savings of 30-50%
Not having to worry about timers, or lights being left on
Positive environmental impact with relatively small cost
If you want to start even smaller, there are plenty of other ways your HOA can be more environmentally conscious without blowing your budget or making big waves…
Stop Printing Newsletters
Add or Expand Recycling with your trash collector
Plan & Plant a community vegetable garden
Use Solar Landscape Lighting
There are lots of ways to decrease your community’s environmental impact while boosting energy savings. Consult with an expert about what’s right for your community, what you can afford, and what your legal obligations might be. You might be surprised at how much money you can save over the long haul.
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Having the right team managing your HOA could be the catalyst your Association needs to institute (and oversee) a long-term green initiative. Visit MyArdent.com today to learn how we can help your community Association thrive.
A partnership with Ardent Residential means a hedge of protection for your Association, with Ardent’s Value Guard™ protection plan.
Value Guard™ is the only product of its kind, and guarantees against falling property values… CLICK HERE to find out more!
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New standards and regulations are being talked about and established now more than ever. Like a lot of other trends, one state may adopt certain standards, and others often follow. Therefore, we expect that many states will be passing laws with goals of reducing energy and water consumption.
One example is California, a long-standing front-runner in energy efficiency standards. In 1974, it founded the California Energy Commission, the first state to establish an energy regulation commission. In 2008, it adopted changes to legal code with goals to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2020.
Another example is New York. On April 18, 2019, the state passed a group of laws called the Climate Mobilization Act. Buildings not meeting the new standards will be fined, and all new construction and roof replacements must install environmentally friendly roofs.
The benefits of upgrading inefficient systems to newer, energy-saving equipment are two-fold: first, it reduces energy and water consumption, which is good for the environment. Second, it reduces the costs of operating these systems, which is good for your association and its owners. But what about the expense of the upgrades themselves?
Cash-poor Associations, whether HOA, coop, or condo, might not have the available funds to retrofit their inefficient systems. Even with government incentives, it becomes quite expensive to replace boilers, irrigation, toilets, elevators, and roofs. Payback in efficiency can range from 1 to 20 years, depending on the upgrade.
One of the quickest paybacks with the best results is replacing light fixtures in common areas with more energy efficient, motion-sensing varieties.
Many boards and homeowners may give you some pushback when it comes to motion sensors. Why would they? Well, for homeowners in particular, reasons include the fear of dark hallways, basements, community rooms, or parking garages etc. And for a lot of boards, fielding potential complaints is enough to cause some resistance. For either group, it’s always easier to just leave things as is.
But there are some great reasons to overcome those objections, including:
A partnership with Ardent Residential means a hedge of protection for your Association, with Ardent’s Value Guard™ protection plan.
Value Guard™ is the only product of its kind, and guarantees against falling property values… CLICK HERE to find out more!
