Apartment managers and multifamily property owners today are looking for new and ingenious ways to remain competitive. From lavish amenities, to modern décor, and beyond, there are plenty of things you can do to provide your property with more curb appeal.

However, recent research, conducted by Strata Research for HD Supply shows that people are looking for energy efficiency in their search for a new apartment. In fact, 62 percent of the 1,000 people surveyed agreed that environmental friendliness was a critical factor in their apartment renting decision.

The good news for you, is that there are several options available to make your property greener and more appealing to renters. These options are great places to begin.

Use Tubular Skylights

Tubular skylights are powerful tools for adding bright lighting to apartments, especially in kitchens and bathrooms. These small lights offer a highly reflective interior that allows them to carry sunlight for 20 feet or more to bring in bright exterior light to first floor apartments as well. What is the green benefit of these particular lights? In interior apartment rooms such as kitchens, bathrooms, and even closets, these lights allow bright lighting (during daytime hours) without requiring electricity.

Install Energy Efficient Windows

Windows are always a great attraction to renters. Unfortunately, they also happen to cause a great deal of lost utilities throughout the year. Energy efficient windows keep the apartment at a more sustainable temperature keeping heating and cooling costs lower year-round.

Designate Space for a Community Garden

You don’t have to create a huge garden for your apartment community to make it a real hit with renters. The ability to grow food and share the bounty of the harvest with others is a big inducement for young renters to choose your apartments. If there isn’t an appropriate amount of land available for that, consider encouraging renters to have container gardens on balconies and decks.  You may even host monthly gardening “how to” sessions to encourage this hobby.

Choose Renewable and/or Recyclable Building Materials

From bamboo flooring to concrete counter-tops, there are all kinds of energy efficient and “green” resources you can use to make the apartments more appealing to renters looking for earth friendly apartments. Both also have the benefit of providing a trendier look that appeals to the twenty-something crowd that accounts for a wide range of renters today.

There are other small things you can do that will add appeal as well including offering on-site recycling centers, switching out faucets and shower heads for water conserving alternatives, and switching to energy efficient light bulbs in all public areas of the apartment communities. Little changes yield big results that put money in your bank for expansion, marketing, or adding amenities.