Tenants and landlords
As many people nowadays live in apartment buildings, they can't decide to implement renewable energy solutions for the buildings on their own. The building is owned by the landlord so as a tenant it is important to start communicating with him/her if you would like the landlord to take measures to increase the sustainability of the building. Therefore, the list below has been developed with things you as a tenant can do and should consider to convince your landlord to implement renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency measures in your building.
Strategic Planning Session
The first step is to invite your landlord for a meeting. Remember to be polite and patient. It is very important to be prepared for the meeting. You want to know all the relevant information so that you can present facts and valid arguments to convince the landlord. To prepare, we propose looking at the technological solutions we are presenting at our website as well as at the list presented in this section with concrete facts about why renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency measures in apartment buildings are important for our environment and the climate.
Facts and arguments to convince the landlord
4.2 billion people live in cities
Cities worldwide produce 75% of global carbon emissions
Buildings and construction emit almost 40% of carbon emissions
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Sources:
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Financing solutions
Implementing new installations will cost money. These investment costs will probably be the most important argument of the landlord to not implement them. The good thing about solar panels and other renewable energy solutions is that once they are installed the energy is provided for free as the sun won't charge you anything. For every installation there is a different payback time. When the landlord understands that renewables will be a the cheaper option over time, he/she may consider to actually implement them.
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You could also propose to pay a slightly higher rent to compensate for the investment costs. As you will save money because of reduced energy costs, this could be a solution which both parties can benefit from.
Another solution would be leasing of solar panels. With this idea there won't be any investment costs for the landlord which could make this solution attractive to him. In this case you have to clarify who will cover the leasing costs.
The goal is to come up with a fair and just financing structure for the installation of renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency measures.
Importance of collaboration
The more people you are, the better, so try to convince your neighbours as well. When a majority of the tenants in the building are asking for green energy solutions there is more pressure on the landlord to actually implement them.
Benefits for the landlord
You also have to present the benefits that those installations will bring for the landlord.
According to groups that help tenants to persuade their landlords on implementing renewable energy systems in buildings such as Discovergy, landlords can gain tremendously from implementing energy efficiency measures and renewable energy systems for their buildings.
Potential benefits for the landlord include:
Obtaining access to capital to carry out upgrade works. Depending on the country, there are government-sponsored rebate programs.
Avoiding up-front capital costs for building upgrades by spreading the capital cost of upgrade works over a longer time frame
Turning building upgrade capital costs into an operational expense, which in some cases can be passed through to the tenant
Improved image and performance of the building helps to attract and retain tenants. The landlord can also attract potential tenants with low energy costs. When the building is more attractive for new tenants, there is a competitive advantage involved which could lead lo lower vacancy rates.
Better quality and higher performance buildings can potentially lead to increased capital value and rental returns
` Higher reliability of upgraded equipment reduces risk of unexpected maintenance costs.
Renewable energy solutions and energy efficiency measures will raise the capital value of the building so the landlord can increase the rent of the apartments
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Potential benefits for the tenant include:
Reduced energy bills
No net increase in outgoings
Improved indoor environmental quality` Meeting corporate social responsibility and sustainability objectives
Improved reliability and controllability of services
More reliable services.
Information resources for tenants’ rights
Here is the list of organizations that can help tenants know their rights and make compelling cases for their landlords on implementing renewable energy systems in their apartments:
The International Union of Tenants
A global nongovernmental and NGO group promoting housing as a human rights and offering information access to tenants.
(to be continued)
Resources and links
Contact to your local solar energy installer
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Contact to your local energy efficiency company (?, am unsure about the name)
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Information about XXX
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