Multifamily Gets Its Hands Dirty for Earth Day
Events range from onsite plant parties to harbor cleanups. But residents are also encouraged to get out into their communities.

Making properties more sustainable is a constant, evolving component of multifamily, with owners and managers across the U.S. making steady progress in recent years. This has included the furthering of green building efforts, the installation of solar panels and the utilization of new climate technology—and these initiatives are necessary.
“We recognize that the heart of our business, the built environment, is responsible for about 40 percent of the world’s carbon emissions,” Sara Neff, head of sustainability, Lendlease Americas, told Multi-Housing News. “As a 1.5°C-aligned company, we have set ambitious targets for ourselves. Our aim is to lead the transformation of our industry by achieving absolute zero and providing a roadmap for other companies to do the same.”
But progress is not only coming from the people running these properties. Residents care too. All the little things that renters do add up—actions like being water conscious, unplugging appliances when leaving the home for extended periods and turning off the lights on the way to work.
These small rituals can be observed every day, but on Earth Day, especially, it is important to reflect on the ways multifamily and its residents are minding the planet.
Here are some of the ways the multifamily sector is celebrating Earth Day this year.
Onsite events
Within communities, multifamily owners and managers are finding ways to include their residents in some fun commemorations. High Street Residential and its property manager, Greystar, are doing just that at a nearly complete property located outside Houston.
With leasing launched a few weeks ago, the community is celebrating its future residents by handing out a pot, seeds and potting accessories to all leasing tours. The event is promoting the growth of native flowers.
“People love to feel a sense of community,” John McMahon, vice president at High Street Residential in Houston, said. “When leading by example, we can influence others to make a difference within that community.”
At Waterton, communities, both corporate and onsite teams are participating in the company’s annual “Lights Out for Earth Day” initiative. Around noon, Waterton teams at communities nationwide are unplugging their devices and turning lights off for 30 minutes. Residents are invited to join in the energy saving activity.
Waterton residents are also invited to take part in gardening and planting events, encouraging outside time and collaboration with their neighbors.
“We hope that these events and initiatives will inspire our residents to contribute to the overall energy saving initiatives at our communities by spreading awareness of simple acts, such as unplugging your devices and turning off your lights during lunch breaks,” Christina Steeg, senior vice president of marketing and communications at Waterton, said. “We also hope that these initiatives demonstrate to our residents Waterton’s commitment to making an impact and leaving our planet better than we found it.”

Castle Lanterra is also taking part in the celebrations at its active adult community, Reserve at Lakeside, in Newburgh, N.Y. A plant party with the tag line “Thank you for be-leafing in us” encouraged residents to get their hands dirty and take care of the Earth, one plant at a time.
At Lendlease’s Clippership Wharf, a mixed-use residential community in East Boston, plans to take care of the planet extend throughout the month of April. Events include a cleanup of Boston’s Harborwalk, a build-your-own bouquets event with fresh flowers and a plant workshop and a clothing drive to benefit those in need and reduce landfill waste. Further, a month-long celebration was initiated to benefit Harborkeepers, an organization that fosters environmental stewardship in the Boston Harbor communities.
Residents in the Cascade, another Lendlease property in downtown Chicago, got to take advantage of their community’s extensive green roof system. A gardening class on the roof taught residents techniques for growing plants in their homes. Furthermore, a clothing swap was planned to encourage residents to meet their neighbors and sustainably revamp their wardrobes, while a furniture donation drive benefitted the Chicago Furniture Bank.
Fostering community, near and far
Taking part in Earth Day celebrations doesn’t just mean onsite events. Multifamily can encourage its residents and teams to celebrate the day offsite too.
Lynn Glantz, head of investor relations and marketing at Castle Lanterra, told MHN that residents and staff at the firm are encouraged to participate in local Earth Day events near each of their properties.
At Castle Lanterra’s Meridian in Suffolk, Va., flyers invite residents to partake in the Suffolk Earth and Arts Festival in the city’s historic downtown. In Hempstead, N.Y., free enrichment events are advertised throughout the month. Two of the events that took place the weekend before Earth Day included a beach cleanup program and a “Stop Throwing Out Pollutants” program in the city hall parking lot. In New Jersey, The Lena encouraged residents to attend a town clean up and free tree seedling giveaway.
For High Street Residential residents in Humble, Texas, an Earth Day Extravaganza event is promoted at the Residences at Kingwood. And for Lendlease residents of The Reed, located along the Chicago River, activities along nearby hiking trails and the riverfront were encouraged. Lendlease also provided subsidized bike tune-ups onsite.
At Waterton’s properties and its corporate office, plastic water bottles have been replaced with Boxed Water. The firm has encouraged its associates and residents to post pictures of themselves on social media with their Boxed Water. Each post accompanied by a hashtag prompts the water company’s partner organization, One Tree Planted, to plant two trees.
Beyond Earth Day
Recognizing Earth Day at multifamily properties can benefit everyone. Beyond the planet, owners and managers benefit from the efforts in a market where residents are increasingly conscious of sustainability initiatives within their communities.
“Celebrating Earth Day in multifamily settings helps raise awareness among residents about the importance of environmental conservation,” Neff said. “By organizing events and activities, we can educate residents about sustainable practices like recycling, waste reduction and responsible energy and water usage, giving them the tools to make positive changes in their daily lives.”
And these events benefit residents in the long run too, from encouraging them to save energy and lower their electricity bills to fostering a sense of community.
“We hope that these events and initiatives will have a positive impact on our planet, not only in the moment,” said Steeg. “By setting these examples, we hope to inspire our associates and residents alike, empowering them to make informed choices that contribute to the well-being of the plant for future generations.”