Know what you have

Buildings.com has a good entry in Mychele Lord’s multi-part series on sustainable issues in real estate, “It’s a Bigger Deal than You Think, Part 3: Operations”. One of the recommendations I found thought provoking was her admonition to plan before purchasing.

“Start thinking about waste disposal at acquisition. When negotiating purchasing contracts, address end-of-life recycling.”

This is useful not only for everyday items, but also for the waste-generating items like appliances, paints, and carpets. The tremendous number of carpets — we annually replace about 20% in my LIHTC portfolio — generate a stunning amount of waste. There are a couple of ways to recycle carpets, but so far, the network is very patchwork. You can learn more at CARE.