Enterprise is a nonprofit with over 25 years of experience in affordable housing development. Their goal is to ensure all Americans have decent and affordable housing. Through their Green Communities project, Enterprise provides financial and technical support to developers to build healthier, more energy efficient and environmentally friendly homes on a cost-effective basis. However, a case study of one such community, Plaza North, found that while tenants understand concepts like recycling, many are unaware they live in a green community and do not actively practice energy conservation. Several ideas are proposed to address this problem by improving communication, increasing engagement and motivating behavior change, such as a branding campaign, competitions between residents, workshops and community events.

1. The
Enterprise
green
communities
project

2. Enterprise
is
a
non
profit
with
over
25
years
of
experience
in
the
community
and
affordable
housing
development.
Their
goal
is
to
make
sure
every
American
lives
in
a
decent
and
affordable
home.

3. The
Mission
“At
enterprise,
we
create
opportunity
for
low
and
moderate
income
people
through
fit,
affordable
housing
and
diverse,
thriving
communities.”

4. WHY
GREEN
COMMUNITIES? “Through
Green
Communities,
Enterprise
provides
financial
support
and
technical
expertise
to
enable
developers
to
build
and
rehabilitate
homes
that
are
healthier,
more
energy
efficient
and
better
for
the
environment
on
a
cost-effective
basis.
We
work
with
state
and
local
governments
to
ensure
their
housing
and
economic
development
policies
are
smart
and
sustainable.”

5. Enterprise
works
with
several
partners,
one
of
them
being
The
Phipps
Houses
Group.
Phipps
Houses
is
one
of
the
largest
non
profit
developers,
owners
and
managers
of
affordable
housing
in
the
nation.
Their
mission
is
to
create
and
sustain
enduring
communities
through
housing,
property
management
and
residential
and
community
services.

6. STAKEHOLDERS
Enterprise Community SVA
Partners School of Visual Arts
The Phipps Jonathan Rose
Other CDC’s
Houses Groups Companies
Property Manager
Community Tenants

7. How
to
make
a
green
community
greener?

8. CHALLENGES
Physical Activities Diseases
Water Conservation
Pest Control
Clean Air
Enterprise
Energy Efficiency Tenant’s Quality of Life
Phipps
Individuality
Comfort
Recycling
Community
Change in behavior
Cost Efficiency

9. Case
Study

10. THE
PLAZA
NORTH
331
East
29th
street
208
units
diverse
community

11. “What
is
green?
I
came
from
green.
Why
would
I
want
to
go
back
after
all
the
progress
we
have
made?.”
PLAZA
NORTH
tenant

12. “We
are
very
green.
We
recycle
and
turn
our
air
conditioning
off
when
we
leave
the
house.
We
like
to
go
to
the
coffee
shop
where
it
is
nice
and
cool
so
we
don’t
have
to
run
our
air
conditioning.”
PLAZA
NORTH
tenants

13. “I
don’t
like
the
lamps.
They
are
awful
and
I
feel
like
I
am
living
in
an
institution.”
PLAZA
NORTH
tenant

14. SURVEY
RESULTS
-
Tenants
are
aware
of
the
global
concept
of
a
g reen
community,
but
they
are
not
aware
that
their
building
is
one.
-
Lack
of
awareness
that
they
live
in
a
g reen
community.
-
General
awareness
of
some
energy
efficiency
tips,
but
they
are
not
being
put
into
practice.

15. The
majority
of
tenants
recycle
and
understand
the
importance
of
it,
however
not
all
tenants
are
participating.

16. OBSERVATIONS:
-
Lack
of
awareness
WHY?
Lack
of
communication
RESULT:
Disengagement

17. Problem
&
Challenge

18. How
can
tenants
behavior
be
changed
in
order
to
conserve
energy,
reduce
costs
and
recycle
as
part
of
daily
life
in
a
green
community?

19. Adressing
the
problem...

20. IDEA
#
1
BRANDING
GREEN
CAMPAIGN
(adressing
the
communication
problem)
-Internal
and
external
signage
-Small
signs
through
out
the
building
highlighting
the
features
that
make
the
building
green
-Educational
signs
explaining
about
the
impact
that
you
create
by
going
green

21. IDEA
#
2
COMPETITION
(adressing
disengagement
problem)
Create
competitions
monthly
or
quarterly
between
apartments,
floors,
buildings
and
CDC’s
to
reward
green
champions,
creating
a
role
model.
Resource:
NYCHA
manual
Metrics:
energy
and
water
consumption
and
recycling
Winner:
will
receive
an
award
and
get
a
bulletin
recognition

22. IDEA
#
3
ACTIVITY
(adressing
motivation
problem)
Green
card
prize:
Each
one
of
the
tenants
receive
a
“green
card”
to
recognize
another
tenant’s
green
attitude.

23. IDEA
#
4
GAMES
(adressing
disengagement
problem)
Games
to
make
kids
aware.
Examples:
-
Trash
Basket
Balls
for
recycling
-
Milk
cartons
sculptures
-
Card
games
with
green
motifs

24. IDEA
#
5
DAILY
CHALLENGES
(adressing
communication
and
motivation
problems)
Daily
encouragement
to
save
energy
or
recycle
posted
in
common
areas
or
as
an
app.

25. IDEA
#
6
WORKSHOPS
&
LECTURES
(adressing
disengagement
problem)
-
Elderly
tours
example:
-How
to
keep
your
house
clean
using
environment-
friendly
products?
(field
trip)
-Bring
an
expert
to
the
building
-
Kids
Tours
example:
Bring
kids
to
museums
and
technology
centers
to
learn
about
the
environment
issues.

26. IDEA
#
7
EVENT
(adressing
disengagement
and
communication
problems)
Attractions
and
lessons
for
the
whole
green
community
in
order
to
connect
Enterprise,
CDC’s
and
tenants.
Examples:
-
Trash
Basket
Balls
for
recycling
-
Milk
cartons
sculptures
-
Card
games
with
green
motifs

27. IDEA
#
8
Tool
Kit
(adressing
communication
problem)
Create
tool
kits
with
ideas
incentives
to
apply
through
out
the
year.
Examples:
-
List
of
games,
challenges,
activities.
-
Templates
-
Thank
you
cards

28. THANKS!