Apartment Therapy Re-Nest | Good Question: How to Convince a Landlord to Go Green?

Good Question: How to Convince a Landlord to Go Green?

As mentioned earlier this week, we're moving. Our landlords are letting us paint, which is fantastic, and, what's more, they're also going to pay for the paint. We'd prefer to use a zero-VOC paint. Our problem? Here in Berkeley, American Pride runs $39 a gallon, while Consumer Reports' top pick, Behr Paint from Home Depot, costs a lot less than that. So, how to convince the landlord? Here are our ideas—we'd love to hear yours.

Present a high/medium/low option, with zero-VOC paint positioned between, say, Ralph Lauren and Behr.
Make the case for zero-VOC paint on its environmental merits and hope that resonates with the landlords.
Just run a number past the landlords (i.e., it's going to cost $XX) and keep other information to a minimum.

Have you dealt with this before? We think our new landlords are cool people, but we're sure they're just as cash-strapped as everyone else here in California...

image by snicklin via sxc.hu

Comments (4)

Offer to pay the difference.

posted by SFGail on June 6th 2008 at 11:38am
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I agree -- offer to pay the difference. And, invite them over for a "whiff" while you are painting. I bet they'll be surprised!

posted by Green Me on June 6th 2008 at 12:04pm
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I just asked my landlord for the money for the paint, however much he thought was fair. He was glad to not have to hire someone to do it for us, so he didn't ask too many questions. I would keep it simple.

posted by sadiehawkins on June 6th 2008 at 4:02pm
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Definitely pay the difference. Don't think of all the money you're spending on paint; think of all the money you're SAVING with their contribution.

posted by CaseyB on June 10th 2008 at 6:29am
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