Are You Watching the River Run?

by Louisa May

Bad news- watching is not enough anymore. America’s waterways need help, and many communities are relying on the efforts of volunteers, not politicians, to maintain them.

The good news is that you can have fun, make friends, and build community spirit while you monitor and refresh your local waterways as an Adopt- A- Stream volunteer. And there’s more to do than pick up trash.

In Massachusetts, stream teams work with the Massachusetts Dept. of Fish and Game in a variety of programs. The Lake Watershed Program was one pilot project whose purpose was to  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.30.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

Go Green - and Keep Your Oven Clean!

by Julie Murphy   

As apartment owners, keeping properties clean and protecting high cost assets like appliances are a top priority. That’s why, when it comes to cleaning kitchens, in particular–ovens–, it pays to think of cost-effective , environmentally friendly options.

Instead of using harsh aerosol cleaners or the “self-cleaning” cycle, both of which emit dangerous fumes, why not consider an oven liner?

An FLX oven liner is a  non-stick, easy to clean, re-usable liner that catches spills and debris from cooking.  Simply place it in the bottom of the oven and when dirty, just remove it and rinse with warm water. This should not take more than a few minutes.  No scrubbing, no harsh odors and no extra energy costs to heat the oven.

There are 2 primary environmental reasons to use an oven liner: Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.30.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green, Make Extra Money

The Farmer in the Dell Didn’t Drink Bottled Water

by Louisa May

The farmer in the dell, of children’s song fame, didn’t drink bottled water. He didn’t have the choice. His drinking water probably came from a well, and so does mine. Living just outside the city limits, I have a well on my property.

The water has been tested and is fine to drink. But I don’t like the taste, so I buy bottled water. Until recently, that is. I’m rethinking this. The decision is troubling, not only because I’m not being “green”. It’s politically troubling, and I am not a politician.

There’s an underlying issue, one that is suddenly much in the news, revolving around our economic freedom and the importance of choice.  Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.26.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

The Alphabet Soup of E-Waste

Why the EPA, ERI, FBI, and GRX Want You!
by Louisa May

Seventeenth century English poet and playwright William Congreve is remembered for declaring that ”music has charms to soothe a savage breast, to soften rocks and bend the knotted oak,” but for both subtle and soft use of our English language today, I’ve got to hand it to the EPA.

Not wishing to incite panic in the hearts, minds, and wallets of American citizens and consumers, the agency’s scribes have chosen their words carefully in writing the Environmental Protection Agency’s eCycling waste website.

Don’t get me wrong. There is a wealth of information here. The EPA site posts a lot of helpful information, including a list of businesses that recycle, re-use, or refurbish old computers, televisions, printers, and cell phones. Since e-waste is defined as a waste type consisting of any broken or unwanted electrical or unwanted device, it goes without saying that we have a lot of it. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.16.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

Cheap Carpet Cleaning to Transform Your Apartment

by Ilana Nevins

First impressions are always important so make sure that when people look at your floor, they don’t look down on you.

For the safest do-it-yourself carpet cleaning suggestions, read on:

• Read Ingredients and Follow Manufacturers Instructions
  It’s always important to follow the instructions for effective cleaning and to avid exposures.

• Provide Ventilation
  Refrain from having children and pregnant women in the house for at least a few hours after the carpets have been cleaned. Be careful to avid breathing the chemicals which can have damaging affects on their bodies and brains

• Spot Cleaning
  Always try to deal with stains as soon as they occur, but be careful to spot-check first. Apply a small amount of solution to a corner of the carpet to make sure it will work correctly.   

• Don’t Scrub
  It can push the stain deeper into the carpet. Instead, use a clean, soft towel to blot out the stain.

• Steam Cleaning 
  Try to use liquid dish soap or all-purpose solutions instead of detergent. Keep the windows open and extract water with the steam cleaner.

• Some efficient and safe carpet choices include: AFM SafeChoice Carpet Shampoo, Bi-O-Kleen Bac-Out Stain and Odor Eliminator, Capture Carpet Cleaning System, Ecover Natural Stain Remover, Nature Clean Carpet and Upholstery Cleaner, and Seventh Generation Natural Citrus Carpet Cleaner with hydrogen peroxide

Here are some home remedies that are easy and effective.

• Mud: Rub salt on the stain, let it rest for an hour and then vacuum the spot.

• Coffee: Rub club soda on the stain and then clean it with a sponge.

• Red wine: While the spot is still wet, apply salt to it. Once it has dried, vacuum the carpet

• Chocolate: Mix Borax and water until it becomes pasty, then rub it into the spot. 

• Grease: Cover spot with cornstarch or cornmeal, let sit awhile, then rub it in and vacuum

Cleaning your carpet can enhance the whole apartment. It’s easy, cheap and effective. It’ll be easy to impress others and to transform your apartment with these simple steps for cleaning your carpets.

Time to replace the carpet?  Click here for your ‘green’ carpet options.

Check out our Green Pages for information on money saving tips that help the environment.  Once there, click on the Green Forum.

American Apartment Owners Association offers discounts on products and services related to your commercial housing investment, including real estate forms, tenant debt collection, tenant background checks, insurance and financing.  Find out more at www.joinaaoa.org.

To subscribe to our blog, click here.

Tags: green+carpet+cleaning, do-it-yourself+carpet+cleaning, landlord+associations, apartment+owners+associations, landlords, home+remedies+for+carpet+stains, removing+carpet+stains

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.16.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

The Grass is Greener in Greater Madison

by Louisa May

The Louisa May “green” prize is awarded this week to Madison, more specifically to the continued efforts of a group of environmentally aware citizens in Madison, Wisconsin.

These residents were concerned with the health and environmental effects of pesticides and fertilizer use in their community.

First, volunteers formed the Greater Madison Healthy Lawn Team, Inc. Later, in the spring of 2005, they joined forces with the National Coalition for Pesticide Free Lawns.

Working “one yard at a time,” the Greater Madison Healthy Lawn Team is still going strong. Made up of about twenty neighborhood healthy lawn teams, they are united as one under the umbrella of the Greater Madison team. The ”Greater” group is funded by small grants and donations and driven by a big desire to make a difference. The goals of the Madison Team and the National Coalition are to educate consumers, landscapers, and policymakers about the hazards of lawn chemicals and get the word out about the availability of safe alternatives. Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.09.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

Stashing Your Coins is Hurting the Planet

Are You Sitting on $90?

Coinstar, a national coin counting and vending equipment supplier, is challenging individuals to become greener by reusing change.

Its Change for our Earth™ program encourages this new form of recycling, educating consumers on the environmental benefits of putting coin back into circulation, thereby reducing the need for limited natural resources used to create new coin.

Coins are made to be reused. And with an estimated $10 billion in coin sitting idle in U.S. households, reusing even 10 percent could supply roughly 15 billion coins, contributing significantly to the country’s coin needs.

Environmental savings can be measured in the form of water consumption, energy consumption, greenhouse gas emissions and waste material. For example, reusing 15 billion coins translates into the following estimated environmental saving equivalencies:

• Water from 82 million showers
• Energy from 4.1 million 60-watt light bulbs
• Carbon emissions reduction from 12,619 cars for a year
• 5.3 million pick-up truck loads of waste material (overburden)

“Coins are one of the most durable products in our economy and, unlike paper bills, have a lifespan of 30 years or more. And with the demand for currency rising, it’s more important than ever to reuse an existing resource,” said Alex Camara, senior vice president and general manager of worldwide coin at Coinstar, Inc. “It’s as easy as looking for change at home in coin jars, dresser drawers, and under sofa cushions and reusing it– all adding up to a greener planet.”  The average household coin cache is around $90.

Coin can be put back into circulation by using it in daily transactions, donating to penny or coin drives, converting at self-service coin counting machines, or taking coins to the bank.

Individuals can estimate the environmental savings associated with their loose change by using the Change Calculator at the Change for our Earth Web site at www.changeforourearth.com. For more information about Coinstar, visit www.coinstar.com

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 06.02.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

Keep Your Tenants Cool This Summer

As the summer months continue to grow closer, and the weather becomes much hotter, here are some easy energy and money saving tips for landlords and tenants alike to make this summer your coolest yet. 

• Use your fan. Ceiling fans use less energy than air conditioning, cost less to buy, and are simple to install. 
• Keep the fridge closed. The more you open it, the more heat is released, the more energy is needed to cool it. 
• Turn off your computers and lights when you aren’t using them. They create heat and cost money.
• Keep your windows open. Circulate air by opening windows and letting the breeze in.
• Plant trees. They will add shade in the summer and block wind in the winter. They can even save you between $100 and $250 in energy costs annually.
• Keep the doors and windows closed if you’re using the air conditioning to maximize cooling. Make sure you have an energy efficient model and you clean the filter to improve its air flow.
• Use an electric fan as a supplement to the air conditioner. It should allow you to raise the thermostat 9 degrees, saving you 30% of your energy costs.

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 05.29.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

Faux Lawns for Apartment Owners

For apartment owners tired of paying for the high water costs for keeping their lawns in good condition, there’s a wonderful alternative. 

• drastic decrease of care for one’s lawn
• enormous energy and money savings
• helpful in areas experiencing droughts
• no bugs
• decrease in use of fertilizers
• many varieties of fake grass

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 05.12.2008. 1 Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green

This is the Dark Sky Primeval

by Louisa May

We wish. These days it is not “the murmuring pines and the hemlocks” that are indistinct, it’s the stars. Our skies are too bright at night.

But the International Dark Sky Association (IDA) is here to help us do something about our light- polluted skies. IDA’s mission is ” to preserve and protect the nighttime environment and our heritage of dark skies through quality outdoor lighting.”

It’s not a gimmick. The late Sir Arthur C. Clarke, author of 2001: A Space Odyssey was also an amateur astronomer who cared deeply about the quality of our night skies. As a long time supporter of IDA, he became a lifetime member in March, 1992. With 11,000 members and sky-watchers in over 70 countries, IDA is internationally recognized as the light pollution authority. Light pollution is defined as any adverse effect of artificial light including sky glow, glare, light trespass, light clutter, decreased visibility at night, and energy waste.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted by Kim Ezzell on 05.10.2008. CLICK to Leave a Comment »

Filed under: AAOA Forum, Going Green