Preiss Co. Partners with SIFE to Promote Environmental Sustainability to Student Residents

By Anuradha Kher, Online News EditorCharlotte, N.C.–University Village at Charlotte and University Club recently joined with University of North Carolina at Charlotte’s Students in Free Enterprise (SIFE) to participate in the SIFE/University Village GREEN3 Project. The GREEN3 community project is meant to serve as an interactive learning experience between the university, property residents, and the property management company.Both Charlotte properties are owned and managed by The Preiss Co., provider of off-campus student housing at North Carolina State University, Clemson University, Auburn University in Alabama, the University of Texas in Austin and at UNC Charlotte.Five apartments participated in the project, which judged participants on two categories: Recycling (how materials were recycled and if they were recycled properly, the use of eco-friendly bags when shopping, how was printer ink disposed, and what kinds of cleaning products were used) and electricity (how much electricity was used and what was the residents’ mode of transportation). The project began with an initial inspection, followed by a workshop, and concluded with the final inspection. Each apartment was evaluated using a scorecard, which was created by SIFE in conjunction with various community environmental organizations.The winning apartment was estimated to have saved just under $90 in electricity bills alone just in one month’s time and was awarded one month’s free rent. “I was really surprised when I found that our properties were the only ones to partner with SIFE on this Project,” says Donna Tripp, University Village at Charlotte and University Club Area Manager. “The interest showed by our residents was encouraging and is a reflection that our new generation of leaders shares in our desire to protect our environment today, as well as to preserve it for the future.”