A Look Ahead: Green Traditions in 2016

Eco-Friendly Holidays in the New Year

The new year might be the time to commit to living a more green and eco-friendly life.  Remember to keep this upcoming eco-friendly holidays in mine to raise awareness for different obstacles facing the environment:

1) World Water Day: Did you know that one in four people on the planet do not have access to clean water?  This holiday focuses on one of our most precious resources; water, and is celebrated around the globe.  World Water Day is held on March 22.  View the website here.

2) Earth Day: This past year, several Grady GreenLiving blogs were dedicated to Earth Day, an annual holiday held to promote environmental sustainability for the planet.  Read more on the official website.  Earth Day is April 22, 2016.

3) World Ocean Day: This global holiday celebrates ocean preservation.  Learn more about this holiday, celebrated June 8, here.

Creating a "Green" Holiday Tree

Eco-Friendly Alternatives For Your Holiday Tree

This is the season to decorate a holiday tree and bring some festive cheer into your home.  Decorating can be both fun and eco-friendly, just remember the following tips and tricks to prepare any home for this holiday season:

1) Artificial vs. Real: When purchasing a holiday tree it is important to know that artificial trees are actually very dangerous for the environment.  Artificial trees are often made from a type of plastic.  Oftentimes, artificial trees are made from polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and other chemicals, and as such are non-recyclable and eventually just become cumbersome waste.  Real trees produce oxygen and rid toxins from the air.  Another option would be an organic tree.

A Green Holiday Season

Preparing for The Holidays In An Eco-Friendly Way

Have you done all of your holiday shopping?

If so, it's time to think about gift wrapping and preparing for those packages to be delivered.  This year, consider this fact:  In the US, the annual trash from gift wrap and shopping bags totals over 4 million tons. To put that into perspective, a full-size elephant averages around three tons.

Here are some green tips to keep in mind before you give your friends and family their gifts:

1. Use environmentally friendly wrapping paper

Choose wrapping paper made using fibers such as hemp, or paper using recycled content.

2. Avoid buying glossy foil or metallic wrapping paper 

You can do a beautifully wrapping job for your gifts without having to use metallic wrapping paper. This kind of 'paper' is difficult to recycle and it has no value for use as mulch since there are heavy metals used in the foil paper. Foil gift wrap is also harder to reuse, since it wrinkles and creases easily when the gift is being unwrapped.

3. Reuse gift wrap where possible 

Large wrapped presents usually have large enough un-creased sections to be reused for wrapping smaller gifts. If you open large gift packages with care, the paper can be set aside for re-use for other gift-giving occasions. Fancy ribbons and bows, of course, can be stored in a box till next year when you'll appreciate having them around and not having to buy new ones.

Recap: Managing Waste

The Damaging Effects of Waste

Last year, our blog presented some facts and figures about waste.  When you discard garbage or recycling improperly, such as littering outside or simply tossing a plastic bottle into a trash can, do you consider what happens to the remains of that product?

Waste that is not discarded properly will eventually seep into the environment.  This is the time of year for holiday parties and family gatherings. When cleaning up, it might seem easier to just discard all the trash and not sort out the recyclables or potentially harmful garbage.  However, when committing to a green lifestyle, it is important to take every opportunity you can to promote sustainability. Recycling whenever possible, not just when convenient, and prompting others to do the same can protect natural resources.

A Green #GivingTuesday

A Global Day of Giving Can Encompass an Eco-Friendly Spin

Are you planning on participating in #GivingTuesday today?  In its fourth year, this global day of giving celebrates a time of year to give back.  Instead of buying presents and gifts for the holidays like on Black Friday or Cyber Monday, participants instead donate to a cause or charity organization.

If you are planning to participate in #GivingTuesday and live a green life, try donating to some green organizations!  Here are just a few:

1) National Geographic Society: Created in 1888, the National Geographic Society "is one of the largest nonprofit scientific and educational institutions in the world. Its interests include geography, archaeology and natural science, and the promotion of environmental and historical conservation," according to the official website.  There are many ways to get involved, whether by donating or signing up for the online newsletter.

2) Wildlife Conservation Society: Stylized as the WCS, this organization promotes protecting global wildlife.  Visit their website here to learn more.

Thanksgiving Prep: The Green Way

Be Mindful This Thursday

Thanksgiving is only a few days away!

On Thursday, whether you are dining on a big meal or spending time with your friends and family- you can practice some eco-friendly habits.  Below are a few tips that make it possible to both enjoy Thanksgiving and maintain your green lifestyle:

1) Don't waste food

After your Thanksgiving meal, you might realized there was more food prepared or bought than necessary.  Don't waste it!  If you can't fit all of the leftovers in your fridge, ask guests to take it home.  Food waste is a a serious type of waste that can impact the environment if not disposed of correctly.  It can also save money and time to re-purpose food into leftovers.

View From The Top: Perspectives on Nature

A Focus on the Beauty of Nature

The majority of past GreenLiving blog posts describes practices anyone can do to save the environment and live a more eco-friendly life.  This post, we want to highlught several natural wonders that serve as prime examples of how beautiful the world is and why our natural resources and scenery should be protected.

The Paria Canyon located in Arizona, United States.

The Verdon Gorge in Provence, France.

Skaftafell National Park in Iceland.

Grady's Environmental Commitment

Montgomery County Energy Benchmarking

Click here to read more about how Grady Management was recognized for energy benchmarking.

Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more about Grady Management on our website or Facebook page.

Green Tips: Winter Edition

A Green Reminder For The Colder Months

The air is turning colder, the days are getting shorter, and people are putting away their Halloween decorations.  That can only mean one thing- winter is right around the corner!  If you are interested in living a green life, you might think that it is tough to conserve energy in the winter.  While it can be a challenge, it is possible!  Below are a few tips to serve as a reminder for staying "green" this winter:

1. Check your thermostat:

No one wants to go through winter cold!  However, there are certain ways to reduce the amount of energy used on heat.  Don't forget to program your thermostat to a reasonable temperature.  While 80 degrees might sound enjoyable on especially frigid days- your home will still be toasty set to 70.  Also, a lot of thermostats now have programmable, energy saving, settings on them; investing in one will ensure that you are living the greenest (and warmest) way possible!

Impact: Marine Debris, Part II

An example of an ecosystem.

Learning Indirect Environmental Impacts

After reading our blog last week, you should have learned some direct environmental impacts of garbage and waste in the eco-system.

This week, learn about two "Indirect Environmental Impacts" of debris on the eco-system:

1. Ecosystem Alteration: Anytime garbage or waste finds its way into the ocean or any landscape, the surrounding eco-system is altered.  Animal and plant life are harmed an displaced as a result, but the effects don't end there.  Even the effort to REMOVE debris can cause indirect negative impacts.  The process of "beach raking" uses heavy machinery to remove garbage from beaches which in turn negatively harms the ecosystem.  

Impact: Marine Debris, Part I

The Importance of Living an Eco-Friendly Life

If you are interested in living a green life, you are most likely aware of the dangerous effects of trash and waste on the environment.

Learn about some "Direct Environmental Impacts" of debris on the eco-system below:

1. Ingestion: A dangerous impact of waste in the environment is that animals might mistake the trash for food.  Clearly, ingesting any waste is dangerous and can cause adverse health effects, infertilization, and death to the animals.  

GreenLiving: Autumn Edition

Green Tips for the Fall

As the weather turns colder and the days become shorter, try to practice some particular, fall-friendly, green tips perfect for the season:

1. Compost: This time of year is wonderful for collecting compost (also known as "organic matter") because there is an abundance of grass and leaves around before natural elements like snow and rain cover everything and there are also should be plenty of food left over from holidays.  Remember to unload your compost often- find compost drop-off sites online to act as a guide!
2. Local Focus: Instead of buying foods full of preservatives, try to buy food from local farmers markets.  Not only will you be supporting local business, but you can rest assured you are getting fresh produce and food!

Why Can't You Recycle...

A Recycling Trivia Game

Not all paper, cardboard, and plastic products can be recycled!  Examine the photos below and determine why the following products CANNOT be recycled.

Plastic Bags

Plastic baggies can never be recycled, despite having the word "plastic" in the title.  Interestingly, plastic products are sometimes re-purposed into bags.

What Does Your Recycling Bin Look Like?

How To Properly Organize Your Recycling

The best way to facilitate recycling is to properly organize your recycling bin.  Don't just gather your recyclables and throw all of the supplies in your plastic bin.  If you are looking for a way to recycle more effectively, try this method:

1) Newspapers are the first items you should load into your recycling bin.  If you have a stack of newspapers, put the entire contents on the bottom of the bin.  Not only will this help with organization, but it will weight down the bin and create a stable place for the rest of your recyclables.

2) Junk mail and light pamphlets should go in your recycling bin next, on top of the newspaper.  This loose paper should take up very little space in your bin.

Grady's Green Impact Revisited

How We Practice Our Green Initiatives

Over the past year, our blog has been a platform for apartment residents to learn about the ease of greenliving and eco-friendly lifestyle options.

As a company, we strive to do all we can to promote our green initiatives.  During our 50th Anniversary celebration in March, we detailed only a few of our practices in a blog post titled "Grady's Green Initiatives."

For a reminder, some of Grady Management's green initiatives include:

1. Implementing energy efficient LED (light emitting diodes) light fixtures, CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs, common area lighting controls, and more efficient HVAC upgrades to help lower utility costs at some of our communities.
2. Promoting public transportation use at communities close to public transportation such as direct bus or Metro access.

Shattering Glass: The Journey of Recycling

Facts About Safely Recycling Glass

While getting your recycling ready, it is important to note that glass products are among the trickiest to safely recycled and reuse.

The process to recycle glass includes:

1. Glass needs to be carefully placed in a recycling bin or designated recycling container.  Broken glass cannot be recycled and is a hazard to others.

Can You Recycle...

A True or False Recycling Challenge

How much do you know about recycling?  Test your knowledge about one of the easiest ways to live a green life by taking our true and false test all about recycling- the answers are revealed at the bottom of the post!

1. True or False: Batteries cannot be recycled.
2. True or False: Styrofoam can be recycled.
3. True or False: All glass can be recycled.
4. True or False: Plastic bags can be recycled.
5. True or False: Over 20 million tons of food waste is disposed of in America per year.

One Year Anniversary of Grady's GreenLiving Tips

New Tips Posted Every Tuesday

It is hard to believe that "Grady's GreenLiving Tips" blog celebrates a one-year anniversary tomorrow.  On September 2, 2014, this blog was created to provide a platform for people to learn about Grady Management's commitment to green initiatives and provide simple suggestions for easy, green, lifestyle changes.

For the one-year anniversary of this blog, we wanted to highlight our top three most popular posts from the past year:

1. "Spring is in the Air: Green Resources"- This post was published on February 24 and details many resources you can use any time of the year that makes it very easy to "go green."  Remind yourself of the resources by reading the post again!  This is our most popular post with over 100 total views!

Enjoying a Green Lunch

Packing School Lunches Is An Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Choice

 For many students, the 2015-2016 school year is already well underway. Everyone is heading to school with pencils, notebooks, binders- and a lunch!  Packing your lunch every day is a great way to live a green life. Not only will you pack exactly what you like and want to eat, which will reduce food waste, you are establishing a regular eco-friendly practice.  Here are the top three ways to pack a green lunch:

1. Invest in a sturdy lunchbox and re-usable containers:  The key t packing a green lunch is starting with the right supplies!  Don't use brown paper bags that are just tossed out after one or two uses.  Instead, invest in a solid lunchbox that you can easily transport every day.  Not only that, but remember to buy some plastic containers to hold sandwiches, fruit, snacks, etc. that will be washed out and re-used after every use.

Water- Water Everywhere?

There Are Few Drops Of Water To Spare In Your Green Lifestyle

Water is a precious resource- and finding new or creative ways to conserve water in your household is the corner stone to living an eco-friendly life!  Learn some  water conservation tips here:

1. Maintain You Dishwasher and Washing Machine

Don’t run your washing machine or dishwasher if it is only half-full.  Similarly, try to do less laundry by wearing your clothes more before washing. While this might be different than you are used to, there is no hygienic reason to wash clothes after only one wear.  This process also means less wear and tear on your clothes.

Conserving Your Resources vs. Shopping For More

Live Green: Remember to Reuse

A key component to living an eco-friendly life is remembering to recycle and reuse.  This practice can save the Earth resources and reduce waste.

When finding ways to re-use in your everyday life, consider this:

1. Food: There is never an excuse to waste food.  When buying food at grocery stores, remember that less is more.  Instead of taking a trip to the grocery store once a week (or once a month, if you hardly go at all) really consider going food shopping more often and buy less food at each trip.  That will insure all of your food will get used and you are truly only buying what you need.  Further, try to save meals and eat leftovers whenever possible.

A Green School Year

Preparing For The New School Year: The Green Way

Though many students will vehemently deny this- the start of school is just around the corner!  If you are preparing for the new school year, remember to incorporate some new-found green knowledge, such as:

1) Try to re-use: Did you buy a great backpack last year that is still in good shape?  Notebooks that you only partly used?  Save money and resources by re-using school supplies that are still in good shape instead of throwing all of your old supplies away and starting from scratch.

Your Green Lifestyle: Adopting a Pet

Tips On The Importance of Looking at Pet Adoption

Living "green" isn't just a simple change to remember to recycle more.  Many aspects of your lifestyle can be eco-friendly.

For example, if you live in a pet-friendly apartment community (view the Grady Management website to view our pet friendly communities) you might want to bring a four-legged friend into your household.  Before you go out and purchase a cat or dog from a pet store, consider adopting a pet!  If you care about the environment and the people and animals who live on this planet, consider these reasons for pet adoption:

1. Think of finding the perfect pet for you: When recycling bottles and cans, you are allowing reusable resources a chance to be made "new".  The animals in shelters can make the perfect companion for you and/ or your family, they just need another chance to prove what wonderful pets they can be!

Conserving Our Most Precious Resource

Tips on Saving Water

Water is arguably the most precious resource on Earth.  Learning how to conserve water not only helps the environment and promotes green living, but also reduces monetary spending!

Some tips to conserve water, especially in the summer, include:

1. Think before you let water run down the drain:  When using the sink to wash your hands or scrub some dishes, don't just let the water run down the drain!  Realize you can re-purpose it for other uses, such as watering plants or cleaning.
2. Drink water the smart way: If you love drinking water, purchase a filter or water pitcher.  You will save a lot of water by filling up the pitcher and placing it in the refrigerator instead of turning on the tap whenever you want a glass.

How to Make Your Own Bottle Garden

Instructions On This Green Craft

Last week, our blog detailed several crafts for recycled products.  One craft was turning bottles and other old plastic containers and tubs into a thriving garden.  Read below for step by step instructions on how to create bottle garden:

1. Select an appropriate container: This really depends on the size of the plant you want.  If you want a small plant, like basil or a small flower, a two liter bottle should suffice.  Bigger plants in turn would require a bigger container, like an old laundry detergent bin.
2. Cut holes for drainage: Any flower pot has a hole cut on the bottom for drainage.  Do not forget to do this for your bottle garden or the plant will quickly deteriorate.
3. Decide the type of garden:  Bottle gardens can be a hanging upright, or placed on a vertical or horizontal orientation.  Determining the type of garden you want is necessary so you can cut all containers to match.

Simple and Fun Recycled Crafts

Transform Your Home Into a Green Sanctuary!

Recycling is an easy and great way to live a green lifestyle, but there are other ways of reducing and reusing without getting out the recycle bin!

Instead of tossing recyclables in the green or blue bin, you can also use many recycled materials for crafts or home decorations.  Some ideas include:

- Plastic Bottles: Plastic bottles can easily be cut with a pair of scissors to make: planters, vases, flower pots, watering cans, organizers, and pencil holders.

Green Tips for Pet Care

Pets Can Live An Eco-Friendly Lifestyle Too!

If you live in a pet-friendly apartment community, pets can become another member of the family!  Cats and dogs can also gain many benefits from green lifestyle change.  Consider the following:

1. Switch Your Pet Food: Eating fresh, locally grown food is a component for a green lifestyle for both people and their pets.  Try to buy organic or natural pet foods- though a little more money, you know exactly what your four-legged friend is eating.
2. Clean Up After Your Pet: This may seem self-explanatory, but always remember to clean up after your pet on walks.  Try to buy bio-degradable bags to scoop up and dispose of any mess.

Green Tips for the Summer

Simple, Green, Household Tips To Remember

This summer, save some energy in your apartment by remembering some of these green tips:

1. Remember Your Microwave: Your microwave uses less than half of the energy as your stove when heating food.  Save energy and money by using your microwave to quickly heat up food and leftovers.  Interestingly, your apartment community may offer gas cooking, and that could be included in your rent.
2. Stock The Refrigerator: The refrigerator uses less energy when fully stocked versus partially full.

Recycling Tips To Remember

Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

If you want to live a green life, the quickest and easiest way is to recycle.  Read some simple tips to make remembering and executing recycling in your home a part of your daily routine.

1. Aluminum recycling tips: remember to crush your aluminum cans to save space in your recycling bin.  Also remember to rinse our or at least empty to contents of your cans before you recycle.
2. Cardboard recycling tips: break down big cardboard boxes or cardboard products.  Keep cardboard products dry, as wet cardboard often cannot be recycled.  
3. Glass recycling tips: try to keep glass bottles in tact, broken glasses cannot be recycled.

Summertime Thermostat Tips

Live In a Green Home This Summer

Most people have a thermostat in their apartment or home. Did you know that you can use the thermostat as a tool this summer to make your home eco-friendly and save money?

Some green tips for your thermostat this summer include:

1. The best way to save energy in your home is to set your thermostat at a base temperature and try to keep the temperature at or above the established degree.  A good goal to strive for is to set the thermostat between 73 to 75 degrees when inside the home.

The Power of The Sun, Part II

Green, Homemade, Sun-care

Following up on our last blog post, we know our residents will encounter the Sun at many of their apartment communities: swimming in pools or relaxing outside.  After spending such a cold winter inside, skin can be very sensitive to the Sun's powerful rays.  Remembering Sun care before spending the day outside can save your skin from serious burns.

Many sunscreens and other products available for purchase in grocery stores are not "green" products.  This season, try to make your own eco-friendly sunscreen with common, natural, household products, such as:

A mixture of almond oil, coconut oil, red raspberry seed oil, carrot seed oil, and shea butter.  All of these products contain natural SPF.

The Power of the Sun, Part I

Facts about the Sun

Now that it is summer, many people are inclined to spend more time outdoors: attending barbecues, swimming in pools, or relaxing in the Sun.  Next week's blog will detail several green tips for eco-friendly Sun protection perfect for this warm season.  This week, learn some interesting facts about the sun.  As the center of the universe, the Sun affects many aspects of greenliving and the overall sustainability of the planet.

Did you know?

1. The Sun is roughly 4.5 billion years old.  Even so, it is only a middle-aged star!  The Sun has enough Hydrogen to burn for approximately five billion more years.

A Green Memorial Day

Eco-Friendly Tips for This Summer Holiday

Do you have plans for Memorial Day?  If you want a holiday filled with fun and activities, try to look for some green living alternatives to any event.

Find the green way to...

1) Spend Time Outside: Use Memorial Day as an opportunity to start a garden or buy a plant that will be the perfect accent to your home or apartment patio/ balcony.  If you want to grill, remember- gas and electric grills are more eco-friendly than charcoal or wood.

What You Can't Recycle

Not All Paper, Glass, and Plastic Can Go In Your Bin

If you care about living a green lifestyle, you understand that recycling is a cornerstone of becoming eco-friendly.

However, not every product can be recycled.  Below is a list of commonly recycled products that should actually be thrown away.

1. Juice boxes- Though made from cardboard, juice boxes, orange juice and milk cartons, and similar containers cannot be recycled.  Some companies now produce recyclable drink containers, but these will be specially marked.
2. Aerosol cans- These include deodorants, fragrance sprays, and odor neutralizers.  The cans themselves are metal, but you cannot recycle products that once contained chemicals because they are considered hazardous materials.

What Can You Find in the Ocean?

Recycling and the Ocean

If you don't think recycling is important- consider all of the garbage the eventually makes its way into waterways.  A lot of waste in the ocean was, initially, recyclable materials.

The top 10 waste items found in the ocean are:

1) Cigarettes and cigarette filters- over two million found per year.
2) Food wrappers and containers- over one million found per year.
3) Plastic beverage bottles (recyclable)- over one million found per year.
4) Plastic bags- over one million found per year.
5) Caps and lids- over 900 thousand found per year.
6) Plastic utensils (recyclable)- over 600 thousand found per year.

Enjoying the Great Outdoors- The Green Way

It's almost summer- a time to enjoy hosting barbecues, planning cookouts, and spending time outside.   With this warm weather, it is important to know how to continue your green living habits; whether you are going to the park, relaxing on vacation or even enjoying your apartment's community's pool!

Here are some tips for keeping the environment a priority when you spend time outside this season:

• Use Sunscreen With Few Chemicals: Sunscreen contains numerous chemicals that can contaminate the environment if spilled on the ground.  This is also the case with insect repellents.  Try to find products with as few chemicals as possible.  In fact, you can make your own sunscreen; here are some ingredients that naturally block the sun:

Earth Day Part II: Modern Movement

Earth Day Celebrates an Important Anniversary

Last week, our blog post detailed the history of the Earth Day Movement.  Tomorrow, Earth Day celebrates an important anniversary- the 45th year since the movement began in 1970.

What can you do to celebrate Earth Day in 2015?

The Earth Day Network, the organization that created and continues to promote Earth Day, spearheads the "A Billion Acts of Green," an international movement dedicated to securing a sustainable future.  In order to join the movement, you can take action (an "act of green") on the Earth Day website by signing The Climate Petition, supporting Environmental Education, reducing daily Energy Consumption, or submitting an original art piece to "Footing the Bill: Art and our Ecological Footprint."  So far, the Earth Day Network has received 1,123,953,067 acts of green.

Earth Day Part I: A Look Back

From the original Earth Week campaign in 1970.

The History of Earth Day

If you live a green life, or want to start, a great day to celebrate is Earth Day!  Held annually on April 22, Earth Day is a holiday to celebrate and promote environmental advocacy.

Do you know the history of Earth Day?

The first Earth Day was held on April 22, 1970.  Roughly 20 million people attended various Earth Day celebrations around the United States.  The largest Earth Day celebrations occurred in New York City and Philadelphia.

Earth Day is often credited with starting the modern environmental movement.  Many groundbreaking environmentally-conscious laws followed the first Earth Day, including the Clean Air Act that was signed by president Richard Nixon on December 31, 1970.

What Happens to Your Recycling?

Recyclables Turn Into Other Recyclables

If you have read our past blogs and are committed to living a green life, you understand the importance of recycling.  The best way to protect the environment is to recycle and reuse products that, if thrown away, will take years to disintegrate into the ground or ocean.

When you put out your recyclables, what happens to the products once they go through a recycling center? 

Plastics

• Water Bottles: Water Bottles are examples of PET plastics.  These plastics are recycled as fiber products- like carpet materials!
• Plastic Milk Containers: These materials are turned back into plastic products, such as laundry detergent bottles.
• Styrofoam: Contrary to popular belief, Styrofoam cannot be recycled.

What Can You Do About Plastic Pollution?

Plastic pollution hurts plant and animal life.

Taking Action

Last week, we blogged several facts about plastic pollution.  Plastic pollution is just as common as any other type of pollution; causing horrible problems for the environment.

Ways to combat plastic pollution are:

• Choose to reuse when it comes to shopping bags. Cloth bags are available at almost every retail store at low prices.
• Reduce everyday plastics such as sandwich bags and juice cartons by replacing them with a reusable lunch bag or box.

Plastic Pollution: The Dangers of Not Recycling

Have you ever thrown even a bottle cap in the garbage?
The effects may surprise you.

Did You Know...

That there is such a thing as plastic pollution?  You might have heard of air or water pollution- but plastic pollution actually causes devastating effects to the environment.

We are surrounded by plastic throughout the day.  Plastic drink-ware and utensils, products for work, decorations in our homes, etc.  If you throw out even one of these products, instead of choosing to recycle, think about these consequences:

• Americans throw away approximately 35 billion plastic water bottles every year (source: Brita).
• It takes at least 500, and up to 1,000, years for plastic to degrade.
• In the Los Angeles, California area alone, 10 metric tons of plastic fragments (including straws, bottle caps, etc.) are carried into the Pacific Ocean every day.

A Truly Green Saint Patrick's Day

Celebrate the "Green" Way

If you ever wanted to start living an eco-friendly life- what better day to begin than Saint Patrick's Day?  On a day dedicated to all things green- why not also focus on the environment? 

If you are hosting a Saint Patrick's Day party at your apartment, here are some tips to really live "green":

1) Buy in Bulk

If you are entertaining guests tonight- try to buy in bulk.  This is more cost effective in the long run and also conserves resources, like plastic and cardboard, when you buy one large package or carton versus a series of small ones.

Green Tips for a Clean Car

Spring Cleaning: Car Edition

The first day of spring is only 10 days away!  It is a great time to think about spring cleaning.

Last month, we detailed some eco-friendly spring cleaning tips in a post.  This week- we are expanding on that tip to include some green cleaning tips for your vehicle!  After such a harsh winter, you might want to really clean off your car.

Green Car Tips:

1) If you want to clean your car- go to a commercial car wash. 

Car washes actually use less water than if you were to try to wash your car yourself.  Usually, people overestimate the amount of water needed to wash their vehicle, or leave the hose running when cleaning, so conserve water and head to a car wash.

Grady's Green Initiatives

Did you know that Grady Management celebrates our 50th anniversary this month?

As a company, there are many ways we promote green initiatives in the apartment communities we manage.  In fact, Grady Management has been a leader in energy conservation technology since 1971.

Some ways we promote green living include:

• Our Utilities and Energy Conservation Administrator, David Farmer, constantly monitors community consumption of electricity, natural gas, heating oil, and water to ensure we conserve these resources and that we manage our carbon footprint.


• Our Director of Maintenance, Mark Rasavage trains team members in energy conservation programs and best green practices, tests and selects energy efficient and eco-friendly products.


• We are moving toward energy efficient LED (light emitting diodes) light fixtures, CFL (compact fluorescent light) bulbs, common area lighting controls, and more efficient HVAC upgrades to help lower utility costs.

Spring is in the Air- Green Resources

Green Living Resources!

Going green is a lifestyle change!  Some people know exactly how to go green; others do not know the first place to start.

If you want to start making green changes to your life or home, try out some great online resources to help:

1) Want to recycle or visit a recycling center?  Find local recycling centers here.

2) Spring is on its way!  Do you want to bike to work instead of drive?  You can track your bike miles on plenty of online resources, including mapmyride.

3) Like farmers markets?  Find the one closest to you here!


If you have an online green resource you love to use, be sure to let us know in the comments section!

Grady Management was founded in 1965 and continues to provide a full service residential, commercial, and consulting real estate firm in the greater Washington and Baltimore metropolitan area.  Learn more about Grady Management on our website or Facebook page.

Get Ahead on Your Spring Cleaning: The Eco-Friendly Way

In a few weeks, spring will be in the air!  Spring cleaning is one of the best ways to start living a green life. 

Did you know that many cleaning supplies and household cleaning agents contain a lot of harmful chemicals?  It is east to have an immaculate house by making your own, eco-friendly cleaners.

Some common supplies you can easily make effective cleaners from include:

• Distilled white vinegar (sold in the cooking section of most supermarkets)
• Baking soda
• Olive oil
• Microfiber cleaning cloths
• Newspaper

Going Green for Valentine's Day

Loving the Planet This V-Day

If you are planning a Valentine's Day celebration for your loved one- you might want to consider a few green ideas!  Share your love with the planet and environment as well.

Trying to Plan the Best Outing?

Some green date ideas are:

Registering for a cooking class

Cooking is not only fun, but a skill that can help reduce food waste! 

Hiking through a park

If you don't mind the cold, visit a state park and take a nice hike through the various trails.  Some parks even offer winter sports and seasonal activities.  Find the nearest state park by using America's Sate Parks' website.

A New Kind of Light

Lighting Up Your Green Life

Buying a light bulb is simple and often thoughtless ordeal- it's just another item on your shopping list.  But if you want to live a green life, it is important to ensure that you buy a green bulb.

The correct bulb can help the planet and also save you and your family money.

Before you buy a light bulb, consider this:

60 Watt traditional incandescent lights-

1) Saves no energy cost.
2) Costs an average of $4.80 annually.
3) lasts an average of one thousand hours.

Compare this traditional bulb with these options: