10 Ways to Green Your Community

The Community Association Institute Foundation's latest contribution to the community association industry is Green Communities, an 80-page, free resource on best practices that community leaders and managers can use to encourage their associations to be more environmentally friendly.

10 Ways to Green Your Community

The Community Association Institute Foundation's latest contribution to the community association industry is Green Communities, an 80-page, free resource on best practices that community leaders and managers can use to encourage their associations to be more environmentally friendly.  Please click on the Green Communities link above to access this document. It  addresses transportation, waste, governing documents, land-use, building and energy management and more. It includes four case studies and "Top 10 Ways to Help Your Community Go Green."

"Top 10 Ways to Help Your Community Go Green"

1. Educate your board of directors and ask it to adopt a green mission and vision for your community.

2. Promote and support a comprehensive recycling program for your community. Reward best recyclers.

3. Develop and promote architectural review guidelines that encourage regionally appropriate, drought-resistant indigenous plants. Better yet, encourage returning community and private areas to forest, prairie, desert or dunes—whatever is appropriate to your community. Announce “most attractive native landscape in a member’s yard” in your newsletter. Give the winner a compost bin

4. If your community is an urban high-rise, find a way to attract hawks to nest, or create a green roof space for members that attracts hummingbirds. Or host a window garden competition. Announce the results to your membership.

5. When it makes sense, purchase smaller fuel-efficient vehicles, including electric or hybrid models, for personnel. Label the vehicles clearly to make a favorable impression with residents and visitors.

6. Install programmable thermostats in community buildings. Establish an HVAC equipment service program. Publish your success.

7. Post a note on each of your paper towel dispensers: “Remember, These Come from Trees.” This message could save up to 100 pounds of paper every year.

8. Install solar heaters and/or heat pumps to supplement pool heating. Install pool covers to reduce heat loss.

9. Develop architectural review committee guidelines that provide some type of incentive, or at least kudos, for adopting LEEDs or Earthcraft practices in a home or building. Promote the construction or the modification with “Earth Friendly House Under Construction/Modification Here” signage. Brag about these members in the community newsletter.

10. Look around for opportunities to inspire your membership. Find a band of brave souls who will champion your cause – your Green Team. Many citizens would love to get involved in this stuff! Publicize the good deeds of your Green Team.

If you are interested in joining the Go-Green effort, can contact: the Board for more information.