What is your best advice for turning a building "green"

[Meghan McCallum]

Hello everyone!

I am closing on a 20 unit building and my goal is to make it as "green" as possible. It currently has 7 vacant units, it is a 1928 brick building with a flat roof. So, I am looking for any and all of the newest tricks, gadgets, or systems that people have used and are working well to better "green" their properties. We will be conducting an energy audit with our local energy company, changing out bulbs to LEDs, and using "low flow" faucets, and we will be changing out windows over the next 2 years as vacancies allow. The basement has 4 units in it, has all concrete floors and holds what will be our office, a gym, a laundry room (we will provide washers and dryers that are not coin opp...so the best washer and dryer suggestions) and a party room for tenants to book if they want to use it.

All utilities will be RUBS back to the tenants to reduce operating costs.

We are also adding a rooftop deck with a plan to have green roof space w possible rentable space for organic farming for tenants. Sound crazy? It is a little...but...BE BRAVE NO ONE EVER REMEMBERS A COWARD.

The property was also purchased VERY well so we have room for some "over improvements".

[Meghan McCallum]

Thanks @Tanya F. I would really love any direction you can point me in as finding the best products with greatest efficiency. I know there are naysayers. Its cool. I know my facts... @Account Closed the Millennials are the largest renting pool...buying homes even later than Gen X (age 31). The Gen X population as the tie between the end of the industrial age and the beginning of the technology age has mostly purchased their homes. The Baby Boomers are dying...when they downsize many buy condos to control their fixed budgets. So, as to be happy to educate but not care to waste anyone's (especially mine) time you can find some amazing insight to the future of investing, including the top markets to invest in now...vs hopping onto yesterdays boom town buy following Kathy Fettke from The Wealth Building Network. She has a podcast and just recently put her predictions for 2017 into a two part podcasts that comes with all the data to support it. 

@Chinmay J. Its not about tree hugging. Its about listening to your customer base. The younger renters want to feel a part of something bigger than themselves, opt for smaller living space, and want more convenient amenities. 

Again, BP here isn't to tell people what idiots they are, or how they don't know their business. Its here to network, add value to each other's goals, and to info share to stay on top of the latest trends. Don't diminish its value being nay-sayers. Instead ask questions that may improve your business using ideas you haven't used or failed at making a value add instead of a cost. 

The greening of this building will allow me to buy the property at $16k per door and charge $550+ per unit, while attracting AirBnB in vacant units and provide a very high quality place to live. I will reduce my Ops costs by about $20k in the first years passing the shared cost of water and sewer to tenants who will be happy to assume it because their electric (heat/cooling) bills are lower. They will have outdoor green space that is safe and private and will have more amenities than ANY OTHER BUILDING for hundred of miles on a budget. 

Greening the building means greening my pockets...