September 2007

What's New

Landlord’s 5-Step Program to Help Residents Reduce Water Use

Conservation is an individual activity needing a community effort. So how do you keep neighbors and tenants on board with using less? Boulder Housing Partners, landlord for 1000 units, has a five-step program for keeping conservation top-of-mind within their communities:

Step 1: Set a target. Each month BHP sets a reasonable water-use target for their communities.

Step 2: Inform residents at the start. Welcome new residents with a packet filled with conservation information and tools that will help them reduce their water use.

Step 3: On-going education. Hold community meetings to remind people of the many ways they can very easily use less water every day.

Step 4: Engage residents. BHP found that some residents were especially eager and served as leaders and watchdogs in the community.

Step 5: Reward residents. If the conservation target is met, BHP holds a block party to show their appreciation and reward their residents for a job well done.

Water - Use It Wisely recommends a Step 6:
Incorporate the recognized Water – Use It Wisely message throughout the community such as static clings on community center and office doors and bathroom mirrors, post a Water – Use It Wisely tip each month on a community billboard, use exterior Water – Use It Wisely signs to show residents how water is being saved by the association or landlord and include tips in monthly newsletters or statements.

BHP resident Laura Downing keeps residents informed by maintaining a “Green Board” in the lobby of an apartment building in Boulder, CO.

How to

Water – Use It Wisely Magnets Special Pricing – Limited Time

While supplies last, during the month of September order 1,000 magnets for $500 plus shipping. That’s just $.50 each! This powerful call-to-action message-magnet is very popular with all age groups and is an affordable way to remind people to conserve water. E-mail today to place your order. They will be shipped within 24 hours.

Regional Activity

Avondale Water Report – The Most Sought-After Report Ever

Is your water quality report more popular than a High School Musical poster? If it’s not, ask the City of Avondale, AZ how they managed to make they’re report one that is prominently hung in homes all year long. They abandoned the book-style report always used and created theirs in the form of a 12-month July to June calendar. But that wasn’t what caught people’s attention. Not only did it contain the required water quality information, it featured candid photos of employees within the Avondale Water Resources Department. Water facts and water saving tips were placed alongside pictures such as employees wearing flippers while testing pool water, or a man testing bath water with a rather alluring leg covered in bubbles. Unexpected, humorous and eye-catching, full-color photos gave the report a real personal touch that made everyone want to read it cover-to-cover before hanging it next to their phone!