Message from CAI

Welcome to CAI’s Community Green, where community association residents, leaders and professionals build community and share practical ideas to reduce energy consumption and protect the environment. For years, the ethos of the environmental movement has been “Think Globally, Act Locally.” There is no better venue for local action than your community association.

Community Green reflects CAI’s commitment to thoughtful environmental stewardship, a commitment that is shared by millions of community association leaders and residents. There are countless steps communities can take to support a more sustainable future. We hope this site will serve as a resource for ideas you will consider implementing in your community. Many ideas are offered here. We trust you will not only take the time to review this information but also join our effort by sharing experiences and stories that inspire others.

We abide by three fundamental principles:

• Collaboration with our neighbors is the key component to develop sustainable, consensus-driven decisions.
• Respecting property rights and honoring private agreements are compatible with sustainable environmental practices.
• Vigilant consideration of our actions can minimize our environmental footprint.

We believe community leaders are uniquely positioned to identify and define successful approaches to energy conservation and environmental protection. Communities should be empowered to find solutions and make informed decisions that best meet the needs and values of residents. Many community associations already place a strong emphasis on environmental protection-from preserving open spaces to adopting rules that promote energy conservation. We hope this website will inspire others to act in support of a healthier, more sustainable environment.

Almost 60 million Americans make their homes in more than 300,000 common-interest communities. Continued and expanded action in each of these associations and by individual homeowners in these communities can have truly global implications.

We welcome input and ideas from all sources. Please share your ideas and success stories.