Real estate company Greystar implemented its Sustainability Sunglasses initiative in 2023 in response to resident preferences for sustainability, as highlighted by a 2022 Greystar survey that indicated 74 percent of Greystar renters consider sustainable housing important, and 53 percent are willing to pay a premium for it. The company aimed to achieve a 10 percent increase in sustainable resident events nationwide by September 2024.
Program Details
The Sustainability Sunglasses course educated on-site team members about sustainability and their role in daily operations. The program focused on equipping participants with knowledge and strategies to promote community sustainability. Team members who completed the course were encouraged to apply what they learned by hosting at least one sustainable event in September. To incentivize participation, the company offered sustainable prizes and provided a Sustainability Toolkit featuring event ideas, promotional materials, and tips for maximizing engagement.
The OneGreystar Portal housed resident engagement services, providing ideas on sustainable practices and the Sustainability Sunglasses initiative. Success stories from communities that excelled in their sustainability efforts were (and continue to be) highlighted on Greystar’s internal platform. This ongoing recognition helped sustain engagement and encouraged other communities to adopt similar practices, ensuring that the momentum built during Sustainable September was expanded nationwide.
The senior director of Advantage Solutions and director of Sustainability led the program kickoff for the Sustainability Sunglasses initiative, introducing the program and emphasizing its importance to communities. They facilitated the roll-out of the toolkit, addressed questions, shared best practices, and ensured alignment of resident engagement with sustainability goals using data-driven insights. Throughout the program, they provided continuous support and updates, sharing success stories to sustain momentum. This active leadership was crucial to success, embedding sustainability into Greystar’s operations.
Results
The Sustainability Sunglasses initiative led to significant behavior change among Greystar team members. More than 20,409 team members (76 percent of the workforce) across 3,428 communities actively engaged in the program, resulting in a 32.72 percent increase in sustainable resident events from 2023 to 2024.
The increased focus on sustainability resulted in a 28.92 percent rise in ongoing sustainable resident engagement programming, which centered on key areas such as energy efficiency, water conservation, and waste diversion.
