South Hill Outreach for Rental ExperienceA Community Partnership.

Mark J. DarlingSustainability Program Coordinator Ithaca College

Ithaca, NY

A simple question…

The question asked: How could we work together to better

prepare IC students for the experience of living more sustainably in PPM Homes?

And particularly, how can we educate student/tenants about the impacts of their energy and utility use?

The partnership

Our vision is to make a difference in the neighborhood through community action and sustainability initiatives.

Office of Energy Management And Sustainability

New York State Electric and Gas

Type City State USA

Owner Occupied25.3%2,928 Homes

49.4%3,977,188 Homes

58.5%76,089,650

Homes

Renter Occupied67.3%7,785 Homes

40.1%3,228,552 Homes

29.3%38,146,346

Homes

For Rent0.6%

74 Homes

2.0%162,164 Homes

2.5%3,286,932

Homes

Ithaca Rental Market

Program Development

Conversations, brainstorming and group consensus building within the SHORE team.

Individual partners identified resources of their organizations to share.

Planned and held a focus group of students and asked a series of questions about sustainability and utilities

We thought we had the answer: An education program to prepare

students for sustainable off-campus living.

Success in energy efficiency literacy will be required before students may move into an apartment, on- or off-campus.

PPM Homes-designed lease arrangement to reward energy savings with rent reductions.

The Focus Group

What is this?

Or this?

But this?

What we found out

Living with others Cooperation and confrontation Tenant/landlord relationship

Utilities: Included ≠ Free How systems work Cost and conservation

Solid Waste Food

Getting the Best Apartment: Cheaper, Greener, More Fun.A presentation with slides and

props, like plungers and water shut-off valves.

Varied speakers and keeping it simple

Student presenters to keep it realEnergy Trivia and chocolate!

Putting it in Application

Do you have experience living off-campus? Yes No

Who are your prospective roommates? ______________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

How did your group decide to live together? __________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________________________

What determining factors made you decide to pursue this rental property?

Locale Price Size Condition Furnishing Availability Company Other: _______________

How did you hear about PPM Homes? Website Sign in Yard Advertisement Word of Mouth

PPM Housing/Energy Seminar IC Life Skills Seminar

Next Steps Develop education and outreach specific

for each year and housing experience Build a stronger partnership with the

First Year Residential Experience Make our program replicable and

available Certified Tenants

Stay tuned…Mark DarlingSustainability Programs Coordinator

Ithaca College Office of Energy Management and Sustainability

mdarling@ithaca.edu