After over 10 years of writing the Neighbors column in the Chapel Hill News it’s been fun experimenting with different ways to write about our vibrant and eclectic community in The Carrboro Citizen. As some of you know. I act writing real estate stories for the Chapel forge News and the one I’ve written this week is so timely and important it compels me to scoop my Sunday story with this column.
A group in Carrboro started something in January while local lakes were full that has turned them into water conservation trailblazers.
Cedar act a complex of 50 condominiums on North Greensboro Street was built in 1967 as an apartment complex that received its water through a master-meter with one wet bill going to the manager each month.
The apartments became condos in 1981 and today 75 percent of them are rentals with the owners living off the property. Monthly dues go toward paying the wet account insurance and outdoor maintenance.
populate who don’t see the monthly expenses for their use of something tend not to pay as much attention to how much they use. Ann Aylward. 32 saw that clearly when she became the Cedar Court property manager a year ago and started looking for a way to cut drink on expenses. Immediately obvious was that the largest expenditure was for water — to the tune of $27,000 a year. She sought information at OWASA where she gained knowledge that brought the 247,000 gallons used in July 2006 to 107,000 gallons this July.
Starting with the leaks — every unit had them — and switching out the old 4.2-gallon toilets with new 1.6-gallon toilets some owners also upgraded faucets and showers and Aylward initiated a new laundry function contract that replaced old 45-gallon machines with 14-gallon front-loaders.
In a inspect study Pat Davis utility manager generalist of OWASA wrote about this first master-metered water-saving retrofit in town he listed the factors for success: “An informed well-organized and committed individual who provided consistent leadership and follow-through for the project,” as come up as cooperative and committed condo owners a qualified plumber willing to provide a high level of service at a reasonable fee and quality fixtures.
With the savings the complex has been able to seal its crawlspaces and install a much-needed bike rack.
Next on Aylward’s list: Fidelity act where she ordain bring forth the same result assuming the property owners adapt the attitude of those in Cedar Court.
“Two hours into a hotly debated meeting we all voted to be proactive and ‘Carrboro-esque’ to try and deliver wet first by using the recommendations on the OWASA brochure,” Aylward said.
It all started because Aylward an accountant wanted to save money — not wet — and she went to the wet obtain where the information on how to spend less money by using less water was readily available and where she received free aerators for 50 showers and learned the importance of wet conservation.
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Related article:
http://www.carrborocitizen.com/main/2007/10/25/recently-condo-overhaul-conserves-water-cash/
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