eco-strata

Become an agent of change in your building…and in your community.

Being engaged and actively involved in your building, neighbourhood and community can be a powerful source of change. By coordinating your efforts with others like you, you are able to affect change in ways and at a scale that would be difficult or impossible alone. This type of community involvement and outreach is part of the social fabric that brings people together, helps to bridge differences through dialogue, and leads to a network of trusting relationships and a positive social environment that are key to community building. This includes being part of a green committee in your building and can extend to other engagement in your community.

Reach out to other residents

Good communication requires planning and forethought. There are numerous effective ways to reach out to neighbours in your multi-family dwelling, including:

• Providing information in strata minutes
• Sliding notices/letters under peoples’ doors
• Dropping a note in residents’ mailboxes
• Developing a database of e-mails
• Posting the information on the building’s website
• Posting notices in the elevator
• Posting notices in the mail room or on the notice board
• Organizing a special meeting for residents
• Presenting ideas/plans/information at the Annual General Meeting

Depending on what you are trying to communicate, you may want to include answers to questions such as:

• What is the timeline?
• Will residents be kept informed of developments? How? What kind of follow-up will there be?
• Can others get involved in the process? If so, how?
• Who is the contact point? How does one get in touch with her/him?

To be most effective, ensure that the content of your message is clear and informative. Don’t forget to have someone proofread any notice or message to check for clarity, accuracy and grammar!

Communicate well

Communicating well is surely one of the most important keys to success, and a strong determinant regarding your effectiveness as a change agent; it applies to virtually all aspects of life, and not least to the sustainability projects you are initiating in your building. Good, clear communication will help get buy-in and support from residents and strata council members. Communication is, for the most part, a learned skill, and there are many resources available for those who wish to improve in this area. Do not underestimate the influence that body language, posture, eye contact and tone of voice have in the communication process, in addition to your choice of words and ability to present ideas clearly.

In terms of language, you may want to use words like “health”, “durability”, “savings”, “payback”, “investment”, “well-being” and so forth when talking about a project and its potential benefits. Although the environmental benefits of greening a building, such as resource conservation, are key factors that drive the decisions of some individuals, many are primarily concerned about an initiative’s economic bottom line, or may be swayed by health concerns for themselves and their families.

A large part of successful communication is the ability to sell (an idea; an initiative; a product…). 

Conduct an effective meeting

Many individuals do not feel particularly comfortable in group settings such as meetings, especially if they do not have the opportunity to regularly participate in, or even facilitate, them. As a champion for “green” initiatives in your building, your capacity to call meetings and chair them will be a huge asset. Indeed, holding meetings is important insofar as it allows residents to define and work together towards a common goal through dialogue in a face-to-face setting. Effective meetings can not only lead to great ideas and a list of action points worth pursuing, but also help to build the necessary support by involving the very people who will then be determining whether a particular project should move ahead or not. If you have little or no experience with organizing and/or chairing meetings, you can search the Internet for resources. 

Look for a contractor

When looking for a contractor, it’s always good to: 

• Ask for three quotes. The cheapest offer may not always be the best, but at least you will have an idea of the price range. You may wish to ask about the anticipated pay-back period if comparing green with more standard options.
• Check if the company is listed with the Better Business Bureau. It’s a quick and easy way to check a company’s record, and see whether it is in good standing with customers.
• Get a detailed cost breakdown and a timeline for the work. Get it in writing!
• Ensure you are protected and have liability insurance.