No matter how sustainable your multifamily community is, your residents still need to leave home to go to work, run errands and enjoy nearby recreational activities. According to a recent AMLI Residential survey, 89% of the company’s residents are concerned about climate change, with 75% reporting a “desire to find solutions to environmental issues.” That’s a 4% increase over the previous year and represents an opportunity for property owners and managers. Here are a few ways you can do to attract this ever-increasing population of sustainability-minded residents to your multifamily properties.
1. Encourage alternative transportation methods
Transportation accounts for nearly a third of greenhouse emissions in the U.S., with light-duty cars and trucks like the ones we drive every day representing 58% of that total. While recycling is an important way for your community to benefit the environment, it takes a whopping 20 pounds of recycling to offset the emissions from three gallons of gas. You can take a big step toward reducing your community’s environmental footprint by encouraging your residents to carpool or drive zero-emission vehicles (ZEVs), as well as encouraging your local government to provide convenient and safe access to public transit and biking and walking trails.
2. Become aware of air quality
Greenhouse gas emissions aren’t just an abstract concern — they have a direct effect on the air quality where you live. Air pollution can aggravate existing health issues, stress the heart and lungs, and even damage lung cells. Over time, exposure to poor air quality can negatively affect lung capacity and even lead to conditions like asthma, emphysema and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. To help improve the quality of the air in your community, check your local air quality index and alert residents about current conditions in their area, so they might consider taking the bus or driving an electric vehicle (EV) to get where they need to go. You can also explore renewable energy sources like solar to support EV drivers in your community even more.
3. Explore electric vehicle charging for the biggest impact
Driving an EV can substantially reduce your carbon footprint no matter where you live, and it also preserves local air quality by concentrating any emissions at power plants. Installing EV charging to support greater EV adoption is one of the most important things any multifamily community can do to reduce its environmental impact. EV charging not only makes it more convenient for your residents to drive electric but also increases property resale value, making it an investment that delivers both environmental and economic benefits to your community. As more EV models become available, more people are choosing to drive electric, so now is the time to make sure that EV charging is among the amenities you’re considering.
Ready to learn more about EV charging at condos? Download our ebook.
