With 40% of the U.S. west of the continental divide classified as being in “exceptional drought” and two-thirds of the world’s population facing water shortages by 2025, an old tactic is getting a fresh look. Authorities around the world are increasingly employing artificial weather modification to spur more rainfall. That usually means seeding clouds, which involves using aircraft or drones to add small particles of silver iodide, whose structure is similar to ice, to clouds. Water droplets cluster around the particles, and when enough droplets combine, they become heavy enough to fall to the ground as precipitation. Another technique, hygroscopic seeding, uses salt to encourage water droplets to collide and produce rain in warm clouds. The practice doesn’t create clouds but maximizes rain from naturally occurring ones. “With drought still a major concern, cloud seeding is an encouraged technology for Wyoming to use based on our drought contingency plan,” says Julie Gondzar, an official in the state’s water development office. “It is an inexpensive way to help add water to our basins, in small, incremental amounts over long periods of time.” “Rain enhancement has the potential to offer a more cost effective, sustainable and much less environmentally damaging option than other solutions, such as desalination” that relies on energy-intensive thermal desalination plants and produces waste that can damage marine ecosystems, adds Alya Al Mazroui, director of the United Arab Emirates’ Research Program for Rain Enhancement Science. Induced rain carries benefits, risks The practice of cloud seeding dates to the 1940s. Today, more than 50 countries around the world have weather modification programs. China reportedly cleared the skies by shooting salt-filled bullets into clouds ahead of the 2008 Beijing Olympics. In 2017 alone, the UAE, which gets about 4 inches of rain annually, carried out 242...

Since 1970, Earth Day has served as a reminder to honor our beautiful, fragile, and generous planet. What started as a single day is now a week-long observance! Below, you will find ideas for Earth Day programming that build loyalty and community among your staff. Yardi Atlanta even offers a full week of fun, informative activities that you can adapt to your site.    Build loyalty Employees favor eco-friendly workplaces over traditional models. Millennials in particular desire workplaces that “improve society.” When working for an earth conscious employer, employees report a heightened sense of well being and purpose. Sustainability measures are popular tools to attract and maintain talent. Use Earth Week to highlight your existing green efforts or jumpstart new programs at your organization. In the process, you will build loyalty amongst employees and position your brand well with prospective new hires. Explore an office-wide celebration If a week of earth-friendly activities seems overwhelming, take heart. You don’t have to go in alone. Yardi Atlanta, for example, collaborates with local businesses to get employees involved in Earth Week. Its programming piques employee interest in sustainability while encouraging workplace satisfaction. Starting April 22, Yardi Atlanta will host fun and informative daily activities. Sustainability Within Atlanta Yardi (SWAY) teamed up with Yardi client and property management company, Cushman & Wakefield, to host these events: On Monday, Yardi corporate sponsors a healthy breakfast for staff. Selected foods will emphasize the role sustainable farming practices play in overall environmental health. Tuesday emphasizes sustainable transportation. A representative from the Georgia Power Electronic Vehicle Program will facilitate a session on EV car chargers and rebates. Guests are also invited to a car show with contributions by local dealers. Tesla, Porche, Land Rover, Jaguar, Nissan, and BMW will have cars and...

While offering mountains of fun in a winter wonderland, ski resorts also take sustainability seriously. Almost 200 resorts, more than 75% of the U.S. total, have endorsed “Sustainable Slopes,” the National Ski Areas Assn.’s (NSAA’s) Environmental Charter that incorporates principles for ski area planning, operations and outreach. As climate change concerns and consumers’ environmental awareness grow, NSAA and other ski resort stakeholders are devising strategies to “help ski resorts transfer the concept of sustainability from one involving a few disparate energy and efficiency projects to a comprehensive a holistic way of doing business, and one that will seriously enhance the long-term prospects of the areas that adopt them,” as described by the ski magazine Powder. The latest annual report from NSAA, a trade association for alpine resorts, summarizes progress in water conservation, energy efficiency, renewable energy, waste reduction and recycling made by more than 300 ski areas that responded to a survey. One destination highlighted in the NSAA annual report, Boreal Mountain Resort & Soda Springs in California, has pledged to reduce its 2011 emissions levels by 25% by 2020. Resort managers retired less efficient vehicles, retrofitted night lighting infrastructure and installed solar panels that will generate 325,000 KwH annually. Another resort, Montana’s Bridger Bowl, offers free electric bus service on weekends as an alternative to single-occupant vehicles. And Copper Mountain Ski Resort in Frisco, Colo., installed electric vehicle charging stations, commingled recycling, composting and scrap steel recycling, and completed a building lighting retrofit. Opportunities for sustainability extend to a ski resort’s sine qua non: snow. An NSAA fact sheet notes that while snowmaking isn’t considered a consumptive act—most of the water diverted from streams for snowmaking returns to the watershed—opportunities abound to execute the process more efficiently: employing efficient snow-guns to increase the...

Electricity powers motorcycles, cars and boats, but how about planes? In recent years, research has been dedicated applying such technology to the aviation industry. Even though the price of oil per barrel has dropped lately, we still pay a hefty price for carbon-based fuels, and our planet absorbs ever-increasing levels of pollution. In 2011, the e-Genius, a two-seater aircraft built by the engineers at the University of Stuttgart, climbed more than 20,000 feet in under two minutes and reached speeds of 142 miles per hour. It flew uninterrupted for 300 miles. The aircraft burned no fuel and has zero emissions, because it was equipped with an all-electric motor powered by a single battery. Another fantastic component was the cost: during a 62-mile stretch of its historic flight, the plane used about 25 kilowatts of electricity for a total energy cost of just over $3. NASA has been investing heavily in electric planes, too—the agency has been focusing on designing and building the X-Series, a line of environmentally-friendly airplanes. Test pilots and engineers at NASA’s Armstrong Flight Research Center in Edwards, Calif. are “flying” a simulator designed to mirror exactly the specifications of the X-57 Maxwell, which will be NASA’s first piloted X-plane in two decades. The X-57 will be the first NASA X-plane to feature a fully distributed electric propulsion system, which researchers will use to demonstrate an increase in cruise energy efficiency, as well as reductions in carbon emission and aircraft noise. That is expected in early 2018. NASA isn’t the only one interested in the Tesla of the skies. Wright Electric, a U.S. startup, announced on their blog the “Wright One,” an electric 150-seater concept that runs on batteries and can handle flights under 300 miles. These short trips make up to...

Traditional sustainable building standards focus heavily on resource conservation and waste management. The effect of building materials on plants and animals receives less scrutiny. Such oversight has lead to the growing presence of imidacloprid in construction, a known hazard of the already dwindling honeybee population. Imidacloprid is a pesticide commonly found in construction materials such as sealants, vinyl siding, polystyrene insulation, and pressure treated wood. Most pressure treated wood carries at least 11 parts per million (ppm) of imidacloprid. Some brands of plywood use up to 300 ppm. PVC siding can contain about 10,000 ppm. Only .025 parts per billion is toxic to bees, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Their recent report states that even at very low levels of exposure, imidacloprid is deemed “very highly toxic” to honeybees. Though the adverse effects of the chemical’s use are widely publicized, the EPA continued to approve additional uses of the pesticide. Six major manufacturers are known to used the chemical, including Lanxess, Viance, Arch Treatment Technologies, United Phosphorus, Willowood, and Zelam. Building materials leach imidacloprid into water and soil. Plant roots absorb the pesticide and ultimately siphon it to plants’ pollen and nectar where it is consumed by bees. The insects are again exposed to the chemical when they encounter standing water that has been tainted with imidacloprid. Lastly, bees use treated sawdust in the construction of their hives, piling the poison directly into their abodes. Honeybees preference for an imidacloprid-infused diet exacerbates their dilemma. A study conducted by Nature reveals that honeybees demonstrate a growing dependency on the toxin. “Free-flying honeybees prefer to collect sucrose solutions containing low concentrations of nicotine,” the report states. “Remarkably, the preference occurred even when bees consuming these solutions were more likely to die.” Imidacloprid is one of...

Parks and Recreation Magazine recently published an article that offers insights into the benefits of green spaces. By promoting an active lifestyle and positively effecting human psychology, the Safe Routes to Parks program can transform the lives of the nation’s most vulnerable populations. Green spaces are a viable tool for improving public health and decreasing crime. Benefits of Green Spaces Research published in the Journal of Environmental Health Perspectives reveals that living in proximity to green space lowers the risk of all-cause, non-accidental mortality by 12 percent. Greenery reduces residents’ chances of dying from illnesses such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer. Scott Brown at the University of Miami studied Medicare recipients in Miami-Dade County. Those who lived near green spaces experienced fewer chronic conditions: greenery reduced risk of diabetes by 14 percent, hypertension by 13 percent, and hyperlipidemia by 10 percent. The 2015 Urban Studies report finds that transforming vacant or gray spaces into green spaces reduces property crime and violent crime in the area. Marginalized neighborhoods—particularly urban, low-income communities—suffer in multiple ways from a shortage of green space. These communities are prone to crime, violence, poor air quality, and polluted waterways. Record-high obesity ratings, respiratory ailments, chronic disease and shorter life expectancy plague residents. Green spaces have the power to mitigate such ills in the communities that need them the most. Yet many high-risk neighborhoods lack green spaces. Those with parks face barriers to access. The National Recreation and Park Association’s Safe Routes to Parks Program aims to create parks and remove the barriers to attendance. Safe Routes to Parks Program The program first aims to create parks within a 10-minute walk of underserved communities. Studies reveal that residents within a 10-minute walk of a park have lower rates of obesity and...

Blessed with an average of 266 sunny days per year, it’s no surprise San Diego currently generates 189 megawatts of solar power. Though it boasts the second highest solar wattage in the country, the city doesn’t plan to rest on its laurels. Instead, this southern California metropolis of over 1 million has set its sights on something grander: to be largest U.S. city completely powered by renewable energy. Known as the “birthplace of California,” this trans-border urban outpost sits at the center of U.S. innovation, playing host to military, biotechnology and medical research and manufacturing. Over the years, San Diego’s commitment to sustainability and environmentally focused city planning has resulted in an extensive infrastructure renaissance and citywide green initiatives. With an eye on reducing carbon emissions and mitigating the effects of global warming, a bipartisan coalition led by Republican Mayor Kevin Faulconer unanimously approved the city’s Climate Action Plan last December. The goal is to cut greenhouse gas emissions and shift to 100% renewable energy sources by 2035. The Climate Action Plan also includes a goal of 90% solid waste recycling along with significant funding for public transportation. “Today, we are faced with an issue that affects us all. Our city’s responsibility is to ensure a clean, sustainable San Diego for generations to come,” Faulconer writes in his introduction to the Climate Action Plan. “San Diegans from different backgrounds are coming together to proactively address environmental concerns, strengthen our economy and improve our quality of life.” The Climate Action Plan includes practical policies designed to strike a balance between environmental protection and economic opportunity. Those strategies include improved water resource management, targeted public information campaigns, and green jobs incentives. “We have an opportunity to improve the lives of every San Diegan,” concludes Faulconer. “This...

The SURE HOUSE strikes a balance between mitigating and protecting against the vagaries of climate change and extreme weather all under one charming, beach cottage roof. The winner of the US Department of Energy’s Solar Decathlon for 2015, the SURE HOUSE is an entirely solar-powered structure designed to make the most of the weather, including sunny days and stormy nights while providing its inhabitants with a comfortable, modern dwelling. Designed by the Stevens Institute of Technology, the SURE HOUSE rose to the top of a roster including 14 collegiate teams competing for a shot at developing the country’s most innovative, sustainable and marketable solar home. Occurring every two years, the Solar Decathlon challenges participants to design efficient, economical, and visually appealing solar-powered habitation. The teams must construct and operate their proposed habitats, which are then judged on “affordability, consumer appeal, and design excellence with optimal energy production and maximum efficiency.” With an eye toward the challenges posed by climate change and unpredictable weather patterns, the SURE HOUSE splits the difference between a charming beach cottage and hurricane safe-house. During sunny, mild days, the building’s design takes advantage of outdoor space by opening up to reveal a combination of decks and patios modeled after “the quintessential 60’s style modern beach cottage.” Its integrated solar panels, meanwhile, can produce up to 10,000 watts of power. While the design may be inspired by the 1960s, SURE HOUSE only requires 90% less energy than a conventional house. Its “ultra-low energy consumption” comes primarily from the incorporation of highly efficient appliances, including a solar-powered electric water heater and an energy recovery ventilation system, along with zoned heat pumps for heating, cooling, and dehumidification. Additionally, an extremely efficient building envelope helps manage indoor temperature and reduce HVAC demand. While the...

With the U.S. building sector accounting for 7% of global primary energy consumption, residential and commercial property developers are turning towards modern solutions, like Passive Homes, to increase energy efficiency in new and renovated properties. Big Apple Energy While it might be “the city that never sleeps,” it wouldn’t hurt to turn a light off once in a while! Though it’s probably no surprise to learn that many of New York city’s most expensive buildings aren’t particularly energy efficient, in truth the numbers are quite shocking: 70% of the city’s emissions are generated from New York City buildings. Even more eye opening…2% of those buildings account for more than half of the city’s energy use. According to the advocacy group Climate Works for All, ten of New York’s most expensive buildings score an “F” in terms of energy efficiency based on Energy Use Intensity. With several more luxury high rises and condominiums in the works, many property developers are looking for ways to lower the energy footprint of their buildings. One solution: Passive House Technologies. A Borough Apart As all things fashionable and hip, Brooklyn is the epicenter of New York City’s passive house movement. In fact, a majority of the New York’s 28 passive building projects are located in or around Brooklyn, including homes in Williamsburg, townhouses in Park Place, and condominiums in Prospect Heights. Some of the passive properties are new constructions projects, but many more are retrofits of existing structures, including a historic house in Brooklyn Heights whose classic façade remains unchanged, despite the addition of super insulation around its double-height windows. In all, Brooklyn is home to more than 20 residences and commercial buildings that fit the passive house guidelines, but because many property owners follow the standards without seeking...

The Clean Energy Group recently completed the report, Resilience for Free: How Solar + Storage Could Protect Multifamily Affordable Housing from Power Outages at Little or No Net Cost. The group’s research unveils just how easy and cost-effective it can be to furnish affordable housing with solar energy. The research and new technologies could be a game changer for the industry. The report examines data for multifamily affordable housing communities in three major metropolitan areas: New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago. The results show that solar + storage can be installed and implemented with zero net cost over the lifetime of the project. Zero. Returns are reaped in a matter of years. Solar has finally become a cost-effective competitor for conventional power sources. The crowning features of solar + storage are especially important in affordable housing. Low-income residents have the fewest resources to pay for the rising costs of conventional energy. Prices for sustainable solar energy have actually decreased, making it more accessible than ever before. Low-income areas are the most vulnerable populations during crisis, particularly housing for seniors and the disabled. Those populations are the least equipped to recover from disaster as they lack the resources and access needed to bounce back quickly. It is important to keep these communities functional until surrounding infrastructure and services resume. Storage and backup batteries have drastically improved in recent years, providing power for affordable housing communities in emergency situations. Such features position sustainable solar as a viable alternative to conventional energy in terms of cost, accessibility and reliability. “There is now no economic or technical excuse to leave low-income and vulnerable people at risk,” Resilience for Free concludes. Precisely how solar + storage works in an affordable housing community will vary by project type. In the...

The price for photovoltaic cells is plunging, in the last six years it has fallen by at least 50 percent. According to a Gallup poll, 79 percent of Americans expressed the interest for the U.S. to develop more solar power. The product is already growing, accounting for 36 percent of all new electric capacity through the first nine months of 2014, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. Although on an upward swing, solar power has yet a lot of catching up to do. The U.S. Energy Information Administration reports that the United States generated approximately 4,093 billion kWh of electricity in 2014. The most part of the electricity (two-thirds) came from fossil fuels (mainly coal and natural gas), and one-fifth from nuclear. Solar accounted for only 0.4 percent. The reasons are various: the roof is facing the wrong way or needs replacing, there is too much shading from mature trees or other buildings, the renter status which doesn’t give them the right to make such a decision, simply lacking those 10 or 15 grand to pay for installation, or the not-so-good credit that cuts any possibility of financing or long-term purchase agreement. The future looks different. A new sharing platform dubbed Yeloha focuses on a new approach, which combines the power of social networks and the attractiveness of the sharing economy, aiming to offer solar power regardless of location of income level. What’s the plan? Yeloha has two types of customers—sun hosts and sun partners. The sun hosts are represented by the people living under eligible sunny roofs, but can’t afford the costs for the panels. In their case, Yeloha will install its own panels at no cost and give them a portion (typically one-third) of the electricity they produce, for free. In...

With every change of season, you can expect new complaints about the thermostat setting. This isn’t (necessarily) because employees are grouchy. Studies suggest that previously recommended temperature settings are outdated and biased. International reports vary on the optimal setting for thermal comfort in office buildings. The United States Department of Labor Occupational and Safety Administration recommends anywhere from 68°F – 76°F. Many offices implement seasonal temperature standards established by the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in the 1960s; though temperatures vary based on humidity and other factors, ASHRAE recommends thermal comfort temperatures as low as 67°F. Such low temperatures are problematic for two reasons. Primarily, men set the standards for the workplace in the 1960s. Men’s thermal comfort temperature is lower differs from that of women. Studies published by the US National Library of Medicine reveal that men prefer an environment that is roughly 72°F whereas women are most comfortable in an environment of about 77°F. (Temperature preferences are influenced by metabolism rates and fat to muscle ratios.) The American workplace is more diverse than it was in the 60s, but thermal comfort guidelines have yet to catch up. Changes in workplace norms also affect our comfort levels. Business attire isn’t what it was in the 1960s. Most noticeably, men and women wear fewer suits. Clothing materials have also changed. In place of traditional wool or gabardine, clothiers now manufacture a host of breathable business wear fabrics. When indoors, modern employees may feel cooler than their 1960s counterparts because of clothing choices. Changing indoor temperatures could result in cost savings for a business. Decreasing the strain on central cooling systems results in lower utility costs. E Source estimates that HVAC systems require 42 percent of electricity and 86 percent of...

France, the epicenter of style and fashion, has recently dealt a blow to the detractors of solar panels and green roofs by passing legislation that will require all new commercial buildings to feature green roofs. New buildings constructed in French commercial zones will have to be partially covered by either living foliage or solar panels, under the new law, which, albeit less drastic than its initial form (which would have applied to all buildings and the entire surface of roofs), will have a significant impact. Installing solar panels will obviously add green energy to France’s massive energy appetite. Green roofs will bring their own plethora of environmentally friendly features. Higher costs –bigger returns Green roofs significantly increase the insulation of a structure, thus decreasing the need for air conditioning and heating. According to a recent study by Universidad Politécnica de Madrid and Università Politecnica delle Marche researchers, roofs with dense vegetation are 60 percent more efficient than traditional roofs and can in fact act as passive cooling systems. Furthermore green roofs absorb less heat during the day than traditional roofs, thus lowering the heat island effect that plagues cities, especially large urban environments. This is further exacerbated by the fact that green roofs release less energy during the night than they absorb during the day. Moreover, green roofs absorb a large quantity of rainwater, reducing runoff, decreasing the pressure put on city sewage systems, especially during large weather events. When local and/or drought-resistant flora is used for green roofs, there is little to no added water consumption. Green roofs also contribute to healthier environments by absorbing pollutants and releasing oxygen and providing shelter and nesting places for birds and small local fauna, contributing to local biodiversity. Green roofs can also be used as gardens...

Research by DTZ, one of the top three global commercial real estate services companies in the nation, has quantified the perceived benefits of sustainable office spaces. The studies are helping owners channel their efforts towards features that are most valuable to tenants. In 2014, studies by Nils Kok, Ph.D., executive director of the Global Real Estate Sustainability Benchmark (GRESB), helped to establish the financial benefits of sustainable construction. Kok’s findings revealed that sustainable office buildings trade at a 13 percent premium over conventional buildings, receive rental rates that are at least 3 percent higher, and increase internal rates of return by as much as 6 percent in less than 15 years. New research by DTZ examines the correlation between tenant surveys and the buildings that tenants occupy. More specifically, the team evaluated responses to Kingsley Associates’ tenant surveys with 61 buildings in Washington, D.C. Allison Porter, vice president of sustainability certifications at DTZ, reports that sustainable features positively influence tenants perception of their workplace. “The results seem to show that tenants who are in sustainable buildings are more satisfied,” Porter says. “We already know that tenant satisfaction leads to tenant retention, which decreases vacancy and rollover costs.” Tenant satisfaction is preceded by two major factors: knowing that the building is green and experiencing the benefits of its sustainable features. Even the greenest building with the best environmental and tenant wellness upgrades will fall flat with tenants if it is not certified by a third party. The DTZ report revealed that buildings with posted Energy Star certifications scored higher than buildings without the certification by an average of 30 points. LEED EB certified buildings received ranking increases averaging 10 points higher than non-certified buildings. Office buildings must also have the sustainable features that tenants appreciate....

What if your property could promote the health of its residents without increasing maintenance costs? You would have an undeniable marketing advantage with potential tenants who suffer from migraines, asthma and other respiratory ailments, as well as those who are simply health conscious. A new line of hardwood floors helps purify the air inside of units without increasing operating costs. But just how dirty is the air inside of your property? When most of us think of polluted air, we think about congested urban cores stifled under a cloud of smog. Surprisingly, the air inside of a home has 2-5 times more organic pollutants than the air outside. Several items in a typical residence emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs): paints, varnishes, glues, cleaning supplies, carpets, markers, copiers, printers—the sources of airborne toxins are endless. New constructions and recent remodels can be particularly toxic, as many building materials are laden with VOCs that are released over time. According to the Environmental Protection Agency, the constant onslaught of VOCs causes and exacerbates health issues such as migraines, asthma, fatigue, and damage to the lungs, liver, and kidneys. Many VOCs are confirmed carcinogens in humans and animals. Minimizing VOCs from the air can notably improve resident health, comfort, and satisfaction. Lauzon has created Pure Genius flooring, a natural solution for improved indoor air quality. Hard maple and red oak wood is treated with a titanium dioxide agent that is then activated by natural and artificial light. Photocatalytic technology transforms airborne toxins into harmless molecules. The floors continually break down toxins in the air overtime, improving air quality by 85 percent. It’s like planting three trees in each residence. Lingering odors are a frequently cited turn-off for potential residents. Lauzon’s smart floors minimize odors, making it a wise...

If you ever played with electric slot cars as a kid, this idea may resonate. An inventive couple has reimagined the world’s roads as the source of solar/electric power for vehicles. Think the idea is out there?  Read on to find out what they’ve envisioned. With global warming in mind, Scott Brusaw (right, driving a tractor on a prototype parking lot built using the technology) and his wife Julie started working on the idea of replacing petroleum-based asphalt and concrete surfaces with a material that would capture solar energy. The hope was to find a way to reduce and eliminate coal-fired power plants.  The result of their efforts is the Solar Roadways project. The focus was on building solar panels that could be walked upon and driven on, essentially producing solar-powered cases containing photovoltaic cells, with an exterior strong enough to protect the sensitive electronics inside. These unique panes would also store the collected solar energy. They’d be used to re-pave the roads, or any surface that soaks in the sun all day long,  and would need to have some fantastic features: –          to withstand the weight of an 18-wheeler; –          to melt ice and snow; –          to capture and send the extra energy to the cities. The answer? Perhaps surprisingly: Glass. Tempered and laminated glass with textured surface to avoid sliding. Furthermore, these cases would have LEDs to illuminate road signage and to advice the driver to slow down on the portions with increased risks, as well as heating elements to withstand snow and ice. Solar Roadways | Michéle Ohayon from Focus Forward Films on Vimeo. This might seem unrealistic, but the idea has been taken seriously. It received awards and nominations from GE, the World Technology Award, Google and the IEEE Ace...

People have become increasingly preoccupied with well-being and seek healthier alternatives to everyday activities. Collaborative consumption, sustainable transportation choices, social connectivity and affordability have become guiding principles for a large part of the American population. The benefits of adopting such principles are indeed great and may include lowering carbon footprint by sharing transportation – whether bike or car sharing, or turning to mass transit for daily commutes, saving costs and resources by choosing collaborative workspaces, cutting down expenses by borrowing and recycling things, and increasing social gratification by engaging in such programs as crowdfunding and product service systems (PPS). This massive shift in consumer mindset has touched everything, from product preferences to lifestyle habits and housing choices. There is a growing demand for mixed-use communities and walkable environments in urban cores, particularly because working professionals and even empty nesters recognize de benefits of living more sustainably. Proximity to jobs, retail and entertainment options, access to public transportation and shared infrastructure systems, eco-friendly amenities and green spaces have become powerful incentives for attracting and retaining residents. As sustainability has become a word that sells and transportation is a major concern for most renters, multifamily operators are providing alternative options for getting around while allowing residents to be good stewards of the environment. Bike sharing has now evolved into a well-developed, high-tech amenity that provides real value to tenants engaged in daily commutes. Zagster, a company that provides turnkey bike sharing programs, is developing a national footprint of bike sharing programs in partnership with multi-family companies, businesses, hotel chains and universities, all of whom are looking to provide value added services and benefits to residents, guests or employees. More recently, the company teamed with Novare Group, a leading developer of cutting-edge, mixed-use high-rise communities in southeastern...