In the time of the environmentally conscious, many associations are looking for ways to help preserve the environment.  To assist associations in this effort, we have developed a checklist of environmentally sound practices that may be available to your community.

• Recycling.  Explore whether your municipality offers free recycling services, including the recycling of paper and paperboard, yard waste, plastics, glass, and food waste.  Additionally, many trash pick-up companies offer recycling for free.
  
• Xeriscaping.  Planting of trees, shrubbery and grass can be a selling point for a community, but due to the high cost and scarcity of water, many associations are turning away from high water consumptive plants and planting dry climate vegetation instead.  Local nurseries can provide advice with regarding to appropriate common area planting.  Click here for free information on xeriscaping.
  
• Water Conservation.   Because many owners want a green, plush lawn, they tend to use more water than necessary when watering their lawns.  This is also true with respect to associations watering common areas.  People are often times surprised at how healthy their sod and plants can be with less water.  Encourage your residents to conserve water and not excessively irrigate their lawns.  Visit the Denver Water Board's Use Only What You Need Program website for other tips on conserving water this summer. 
  
• Energy Conservation.  With the increased costs of gasoline, fossil-fuel-related energy generation costs have soared.  Associations can promote solar energy usage and other energy conservation devices to reduce consumption of fossil fuel energy.  For additional energy saving tips click here.