Sustainablility-
The Aegis Difference
With so much of the national dialogue focused on protecting our environment, it is no surprise that one of the significant emerging trends in community association legislation revolves around sustainability and conservation. This legislation often invalidates provisions of the recorded covenants and can sometimes mandate capital expenses by the Association. However, we believe that the sensible implementation of conservation-minded principles are not only environmentally responsible, but can also be financially prudent. With so much of the environmental movement sidetracked by political motives both good and bad, we constantly seek out ways to make conservation a financially rewarding part of the neighborhood operations. Consider the following examples of how an environmentally friendly approach to community maintenance can conserve valuable resources for any community.
- Smart, ET based irrigation controllers and systems can reduce water use significantly, often more than paying for the capital cost of the system in the first year alone. These systems water only when needed and for as long as needed, based on macro-climatic conditions such as rainfall, windspeed, and humidity, as well as micro-climatic conditions such as soil type, shade aspect, and plant types.
- Florida Friendly® landscapes requires less water, fewer fertilizers, fewer hazardous pest and disease control chemicals, and produce more natural flowers. These hardy landscapes also tolerate the cold, survive the droughts (and the annual watering restrictions), and resist local pests, resulting in fewer plant replacements long term. The good news is that these landscapes are equally appealing as the exotic (and water thirsty) plant palettes so commonly used.
- When the adjoining landscapes require fewer fertilization treatments, the lakes and retention ponds require less treatment with algaecides and synthetic dyes. When the littoral zones of these ponds and lakes are planted with native grasses and plants, they often require no chemical treatments and water clarity increases markedly. In addition, more fish and wildlife thrive in the increased habitat and mosquito larvae are reduced dramatically by the feeding young fish and insects.
- For high rise buildings and communities with clubhouses and other large scale amenities, high SEER HVAC units, variable speed domestic water pumps, LEED certified lighting fixtures and lamps, Energy Star® certified appliances, Water Star® certified fixtures, and the conversion to natural gas equipment can save thousands upon thousands of dollars annually.
- Community Sustainability Committees can build awareness in the community by sponsoring neighborhood cleanup days, tool sharing programs, ride sharing programs, and by offering educational opportunities about conservation.
- Common recycling programs can generate revenue when used properly. Strategically located receptacles can turn the domestic waste of the community into cash for the community.
- For Developers, we encourage the use of these principles at the time of construction, which can result in lower assessments and a more stable ownership experience for community residents.
In our offices, Aegis uses an electronic filing and document posting program that is estimated to save 750,000 sheets of paper annually. All while making the distribution of important community documents easier and quicker for both our staff and community members. Property inspections are coordinated so that fewer of our vehicles are on the road performing our day-to-day duties. We are committed to seeking out ways to do our part in saving the resources of the communities in which we live.
