It’s important to make your HOA green with climate change reeking havoc, and making energy conservation more important. 

Energy conservation is a good way for your HOA to make a difference. By making a few changes you can make a big difference, Saving energy is not only good for the planet, it’s also good for your wallet. Water, electricity, heating and cooling systems are all expensive, and the more everyone saves, the better. If you need another reason, having fewer air pollutants in and around your HOA makes that the air is better. Cleaner air improves health and respiratory systems.

There are many things you can do an to improve energy conservation and make your HOA green. Both within the common spaces within your HOA, and also to encourage your residents to improve how much energy they save. So what can you actually do?

HOA Green Outside Common Spaces

In outside common areas, you can plant more trees for more shade. Built-up areas tend to be hotter than rural areas, and planting trees can reduce that extra heat. If trees can give shade to nearby houses in your HOA, this can cool down the buildings drastically. This reduces how much energy the building then needs to consume. Trees also release oxygen, making your HOA’s air purer. If you need another reason, trees improve water quality and they have been shown to reduce sidewalk maintenance. 

Environmentally Friendly Pool

A pool loses about 95% of its heat at the surface, so a pool cover can lower this in a big way. You can buy solar pool covers, which not only reduces evaporation but also heats up your swimming pool. If you heat your pool, switch it off outside of opening hours, or peak times. Otherwise, simply plant a hedge to create a windbreak to reduce heat loss. Another idea is to pick a darker finish for your pool to increase natural heat absorption.

Some States offer policies and incentives for people to buy energy-efficient pool appliances to help you invest in a ‘green’ pool. So check if your state offers anything. If none of these are possible simply maintaining your pool’s cleaning system can massively improve energy consumption. Showers in the changing areas could be fitted with water-reducing heads, and toilets could be low-flow to reduce water consumption.

HOA Green Inside Common Spaces

Indoor amenities can become more environmentally friendly by installing LED lights, which can use up to 80% less energy, and last much longer. You can install a programmable thermostat so that it switches on when the area is in use, and off afterward. Make sure it is set to a reasonable temperature, and not turned up too high.
Another great way to reduce energy lost is to seal and insulate buildings. Air slips out of cracks in windows, doors, electrical outlets, pipes, and wires. When these are well sealed you can really improve your energy efficiency. Light-colored walls and high gloss paint also reflect light, so you can take advantage of the natural light.

Greener Roofs

One way to literally make your HOA green is that the roof of buildings could become living roofs. Adding plants increases insulation, absorb rainwater and cool down the building. Or cool roofs, which are made to reflect more sun, and absorb less of the sun rays. Otherwise, solar panels are an excellent option to produce energy for the building and many States offer rebates to people who install them.
In fitness facilities, bamboo flooring is increasing in popularity, as it is fast-growing and easily recyclable. Cork is another possibility, as is recycled rubber which is durable, easy to clean and eco-friendly. Where heating is required underfloor heating is more effective than more traditional heating.

Encourage Residents to be Greener

Campaigns make a huge difference in people’s behavior. Putting up a sign in your swimming or gym changing rooms reminding people to not use too many paper towels or soap and not to leave the tap running can really make a difference in their behavior. In Neigbrs by Vinteum, you can post tips for your residents to reduce energy consumption in community news, or via texts. By posting online on your HOA website instead of sending a paper newsletter you would also be reducing how much paper you use.

Highlighting the benefits of saving energy can help to change behavior. Ideas of ways they could change how much energy they use would be to wash clothes in colder water and to always put on full loads of laundry. Or making sure they clean their heating and/or cooling systems at least once a year. Other ideas include encouraging them to buy energy-efficient appliances, turning off lights and electronics and to always recycle well. Any of these ideas will make your HOA green and more environmentally friendly.

Conclusion to Make Your HOA Green

Making your HOA green and more environmentally friendly includes both big and small changes from the board and residents.

By using HOA software, you can improve how green your HOA is as you will use less paper and be more efficient. You can book your free demo of Neigbrs by Vinteum to find out how we can help you be more green.