Originally posted August 2007
I have yet to see the award winning documentary An Inconvenient truth. Of course I've seen the trailers, promos, debates and heard an unbelievable amount of references to the film. But, I just haven't been able to talk myself into renting a DVD that warns of impending disaster. Besides, it’s nearing the end of hurricane season and I’d like to fully realize the peace brought from such an uneventful season.
I recently watched an episode of Oprah with Al Gore, a rerun, no doubt inspired by Mr. Gore’s winning of a Nobel Peace Prize earlier this month. The episode featured the producer and narrator of An Inconvenient Truth and basically recapped the documentary. The most memorable segment of the show exhibited a scene that featured an adorable polar bear clinging for life as each iceberg that it grasped snaps like sheets of glass, causing the bear to eventually drown. A graphic prediction of global warming is obviously what the animation was implying and yes it got my attention. Which is probably why I don't feel the need to rent the DVD . . .Oprah and Al provided the cliffs notes.
Multi-family developments are obviously one of the largest consumers of natural resources. The vast majority of rental units in this region were not constructed with a focus on conservation and as a result any attempt to create a ‘green’ oriented community will likely be implemented through education of its residents. This notion puts the spotlight directly on property managers. As we coordinate new leases, secure renewals and host resident functions you can bet that managers will be confronted with questions about green living, the answers will undoubtedly be linked directly to the property’s bottom line.
Leadership efforts can range from resident functions doubling as ‘green’ workshops to the use of emailed newsletters in place of the traditional paper types. Ultimately, the most effective way for S. Florida’s multifamily communities to develop a ‘green’ consciousness will be through its managers and their ability to lead the way.
