Water Conservation in Apartment Buildings
As a landlord, some of the biggest expenses are utilities like electric, gas and water. While some landlords have the tenants in each apartment pay their own bills, other complexes choose to include utilities in the rent.
Either way, the amount of water used at the building can become costly, even if the landlord pays just for shared spaces, lawn care, and related water-using areas. By keeping that in mind, it is easy to see that water conservation can become a hot topic for a landlord, in order to save on utilities and make the apartment building profitable.
Fortunately, there are a number of ways in which landlords can conserve water. These include:
Installing Low-Flow Fixtures
One of the best ways to conserve water in an apartment building is to make sure all the apartments and every common, public area has low-flow fixtures. Toilets, sinks, and shower heads that use less water are excellent choices, because they reduce how much water gets used automatically, without having to think about it.
There’s no need to warn tenants or keep reminding them about water usage, and that can keep tensions and frustrations lower, as well. These fixtures are generally not much more expensive than others, but they can save a lot of money in the long run.
Limit Lawn Watering by Using Native Plants
If you choose plants and grasses that are native to your environment, they won’t require as much water to keep them alive and healthy. That’s great news when it comes to water conservation, and can also save you a lot of money over time. These kinds of plants also often cost less, because they are common to the area and don’t have to be imported. That makes it a money-saving win on two counts.
Avoid Water Features Like Pools and Fountains
The more water features you have for tenants and guests, the more water you’re going to have to use. It’s a much better choice to eliminate those kinds of things. You can still have a great apartment community without a big community pool, and it’s not necessary to have fountains in the lobby or out front in order to impress potential tenants. Rather than focus on those things, conserve water and focus on other ways to make the complex and the community areas great.
Recycle Rain Water and “Gray” Water
With barrels and other collection devices, you can use rain water and “gray” water – the water from sinks, bathtubs, and washing machines – to water the lawn and other landscaping features. This water doesn’t cost anything, and it’s safe to use for many different types of applications. It will help you spend less on the landscaping, while still having it look good.
With so many ways to conserve water in an apartment building, it’s surprising that more landlords aren’t making it a priority. If you add it to the list of important ways to save money, you’ll be ahead of many other complex owners.
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