Calling All Landlords

Just when you think the whole world is going green, you have an experience like I did this past week. Meeting with 15 landlords, inhaling strong fumes in my potential new places to live and inquiring, “Is this low or zero VOC paint?” And encountering a blank stare 15 out of 15 times: “What is VOC paint?”

[In case you don't know, VOCs are Volatile Organic Compounds which can be toxic and irritating to breathe and cause that new paint and new car smell.]

These real estate agents weren't being an evil shade of brown; they had no idea. They seemed caught off guard. It was a first. This was surprising for me.

It seems that my apartment hunting in San Francisco has uncovered an untapped market for greening: the rental renovation market. A tenant moves out, and the fixer-upper crews move right in. Paint, new carpets, tile that kitchen and make it granite, paint some more, sand and varnish those hardwood floors, and how about a new dishwasher? Done in record time. Ready for showing. Oh, and open those windows please because it really stinks in here. 

From what I could see, almost none of this flurry of activity was being done in a green way. Everyone was focused on the superficials. “Look at this new tile!” No one mentioned a single thing about the underlying health of the apartment for its tenants and the planet. And not a single apartment had a green composting bin system yet. The off-gassing was incredible in these 15 apartments from the new paint and either the new carpets or the "fresh" hardwood floors.

Peruse the number of apartments for rent right now on Craigslist. Imagine the work crews for each one, and you get a Manhattan-sized amount of un-green renovation occurring at lightening speed.

This seems outdated in one of the greenest cities in the nation, San Francisco, at one of the greenest times in history, now. Clearly the green renaissance has left the apartment building property owners and managers behind for now. And the rental agents judging by their inquisitive responses. Some of them dismissed my questions; others seemed genuinely interested and got back to me with answers.

This is a huge opportunity. So if you are looking for a new apartment, ask the tough green questions. Apparently, the first thing most landlords do is paint, so try to head any high-VOC painting off at the pass. Ask if appliances are Energy Star rated. Ask for non-toxic hardwood floor lacquers. Ask where the recycling and composting facilities are. Verbalize your preference for green design to increase awareness.

And if you own condos or an apartment building and are renting out units, consider renovating with a green thumb and advertising the eco features. In hyper-aware places like San Francisco, LA and NYC, I suspect you will be pleased with the tenant glee that ensues, and you might even be able to charge a premium.

I did find one ray of green light in this apartment-hunting jungle: a building with solar panels on the roof for water heating, a low-flow toilet, CFLs in the garage, and an emphasis on ventilation. It's a promising start and might become my new home, the perfect canvas for creating a humble abode showcase of sustainable green design.