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Your co-op has three main assets, although only one appears on the audited financial statements.

Your money and buildings

Protect your co-op‘s property by buying the right insurance in the right amounts. All housing co-ops need five kinds of insurance:  property, loss of housing charges, public

Sounds simple, but if every member uses less water, you can shrink your co-operative’s water bill, leaving more money for other priorities. Water rates may rise in future; now is the time to take action.

Are outdoor lights on sensors or timers? Has your co-op switched to LED lighting in your common spaces? Good investment! Not only will it use 75 to 90 % less electricity than incandescent, but the bulbs will last much longer.

Encourage your members to cut energy use too. They can turn down the

Grants and loans come and go, as government priorities change at the federal, provincial and municipal levels. Those that support environmental sustainability in not-for-profit housing are no different. Opportunities can change without notice, so when you discover one, go for it right away.

Even a modest property can look beautiful when it includes colourful gardens and mature trees. People will want to live there and the co-op’s neighbours will love you.

Some co-ops have generous outdoor common space with plenty of room for a community garden. Others were built almost to the lot line

Co-ops that care about climate change and want to shrink their environmental footprint should consider approving their own Environmental Sustainability Policy. A model is available from the Co‑operative Housing Federation of Canada. It was written so that you can easily remove any points that don’t