Hi,
Looking for advice re: communicating to tenants in a letter (email) that the showerhead and the faucet aerators in their apartment will be changed out within the next few months. (This will be done by a contractor-- this is not something they would be involved in or that they have the option of not having it done. The plan is to go building by building, floor by floor, getting this done. They will get this letter soon and then will have notice 1 week in advance of their changeout.). While they could go out and buy another showerhead, what is being installed will be tamper proof.
What are the key pieces of information to include?
What's the best way to frame it? (Water prevented vs. saved, for example... (btw, water has always been a tough place to use "prevented" it seems... suggestions?)).
The best kind of language to use? ("efficiency" "upgrade" etc.)
Should we acknowledge that they will experience reduced water pressure / amount of water, but ask them to take it in stride because they will be helping the environment?
Or use it as an opportunity to educate about the new technology? Something like, these technologies lower water consumption by reducing the amount of water coming out of the device and resident should notice a difference.
Should there be an element of involvement somehow? They will most likely not even be home when the changeout occurs.
What would you recommend?
Should they receive something? Perhaps a door knob hanger letting them know that the changeout happened and reinforcing the stats of how much will be saved (prevented), and that they are part of a bigger effort to reduce the impact of the apartments on the environment?
Any thoughts / ideas on the above / information from your own experience would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Meryl
Hi Meryl:
First question, have the showerheads been tested? If they are high quality then the tenant might not notice a reduction in satisfaction, or a reduction in pressure. There is great difference in quality among showerheads so this will dictate how they are received. Also, do the tenants receive a water bill? If they do, it'll be easier to sell increased efficiency (use efficiency vs. conservation as the latter could imply deprivation). Bathroom aerators will probably go unnoticed. Kitchen aerators may bother some people if they are a big reduction as we tend to use water to fill up fixed amounts of water (i.e. pots, the sink etc.). If they take longer to fill, you are just aggravating people and because a significant portion of their use is fixed, not much water is saved. Has there been drought in the area? - this could be used as justification for increased efficiency. Showers use energy to heat the water therefore you can tout the energy savings too, as well as greenhouse gas reductions from less energy use. There are also embedded energy savings because less water is being processed, pumped to the building and less sewage cleaned at the other end. As for how you position this, you'd know more if you were to conduct tenant interviews or facilitated meetings where invite a group of about 10 and you provide a questionnaire and have the group write answers to a few questions at a time and then discuss as a group. This reduces the chances of one loud mouth steering the discussion because participants have to be consistent with the answers they've written (and will hand in at the end). I think leaving a door hanger reinforcing project benefits is a great idea.
Hope this helps,
Glen Pleasance.