Five years ago, going green may have been a cost prohibitive thought for many multifamily property owners. After all, the push seemed to be all about Energy Star windows, energy efficient insulation, and Eco-friendly HVAC—all major overhauls that cost a pretty penny. And, while, if you have the budget for such improvements, these efforts are definitely attractive, you don’t have to spend an arm and a leg to show tenants you care about the environment.

In fact, making small, easily affordable strides to improving the green-ness of your property will not go overlooked by Eco-conscious tenants. All of these can even be used in marketing materials as selling points to prospects.

• Lighting. One of the easiest and most affordable ways to go green is with lighting. According to EarthEasy, regular light bulbs (incandescent) burn up to 25% of the average home energy budget. Over a lifetime, a single bulb can cost 5 to 10 times the cost of the bulb itself just in energy usage. On the flip side, a Light Emitting Diode (LED) lasts about ten times as long as the traditional bulb and are far more efficient—using only 1/3 to 1/30 of incandescent or CFL. And, the price of these bulbs continues to lower annually.
• Fixtures. How efficient is the plumbing in your property? While having a professional out to inspect the lines and insure there are no major problems is something that should be done at least on an annual basis, taking a simple look just at the fixtures within each unit can prevent long-term issues. Consider low flow faucets in kitchens and baths, as well as low flow shower heads. For budgets with a bit more room, high efficiency toilets will also help to clear the bowls with more thrust, but less water, reducing the amount of usage and waste.
• Weather proofing. One of the easiest and cheapest methods to reducing energy usage is to ensure weather stripping is in place and healthy on all unit doors and windows. Leaks can drive up air usage in the summer and heat in the winter, and that’s a lose-lose for all involved; not to mention, the risk of damage from other elements. So, it’s wise to always include a thorough inspection of the stripping in a unit in between tenants, while encouraging all tenants to report issues in the meantime.
• Recycling. Provide tenants the ability to recycle. Even if it’s not possible to have a door-to-door service that collects the receptacles, your Eco-friendly tenants will thank you for providing them a place where they can separate and discard their aluminum, paper, and plastic products.