Congratulations for making the thoughtful choice in choosing to live at 550 Moreland. 550 Moreland is a vibrant mixed-use community that inspires healthy living and promotes sustainability.

Live lightly
Calculate your carbon footprint
By choosing a mixed-use, multi-family community, you’ve made a choice to lessen the impact of your carbon footprint. Carbon footprint measures the impact of human activity on the environment in terms of the amount of harmful green-house gases produced, and measured, in units of carbon dioxide. If you want to calculate and reduce your carbon footprint even further, use this free interactive carbon calculator by Conservancy International. It's fun. 
http://www.conservation.org/act/live_green/
carboncalc/Pages/default.aspx

Multi-family equals sustainable living
Here’s what the Urban Land Institute says about multi-family living:

• Multifamily residents tend to drive fewer miles and also tend to use public transportation more frequently than residents of single-family housing.
• Multifamily housing usually requires fewer roads, sewer and water pipes, and electricity and gas lines.
• Close by fitness centers, pools, and picnic areas reduce the need for auto trips
• By housing more people on less land, multifamily developments make it possible to preserve more open space and natural features than do single-family housing developments.
• Smaller multifamily units use less electricity and apartment residents in general use less water per unit than single-family homes 
• When affordable housing choices near job centers are in short supply, workers must live in distant locations where housing is more affordable, resulting in long, frustrating, and expensive commutes and contributing to area-wide traffic congestion.

550 Moreland green building features
According to the US Green Building Council buildings account for one-third of our energy use and 30% of greenhouse gasses and 30% of the raw material used in the U.S. today.
550 Moreland incorporates features that help make its carbon footprint a little bit lighter.

• 330 solar panels light the common area, recreational and fitness center that we estimate will reduce CO2 emissions by 102,435 lbs. annually.
• A water conservation program using recycled water systems irrigates all the common area landscaping.

Transportation 
You’re just steps away from a latte or a lunch. Walk, bike, run, or skateboard to your next shopping trip. Or perhaps take advantage of the many transit options close to 550 Moreland, for your morning commute. What if you could get anywhere you needed without a car? We try to make that possible at 550 Moreland. Stroll over to Rivermark Village or hike or bike the local trails. 550 Moreland is close to light rail and other public transportation.

• Caltrain’s free shuttles: These free shuttles are funded by our local air resource board and open to the public. The shuttles travel to all rail and transportation hubs in the Bay area. http://www.caltrain.com/shuttles.html
• Bike routes, carpool, and traffic info: Map a bike route, find carpool and traffic information for your daily commute. http://www.511.org/
• Bike There: Hook into this local organization for information on routes, trips, and a community of like-minded, fun people. Silicon Valley Bicycle Coalition

Recycling resources
Recycle bins are provided in the trash collection areas near each elevator. Did you know?

• Every ton of paper made from recycled materials saves about 7,000 gallons of water. That means each New York Times printed on recycled newsprint saves about 3.5 gallons of water.
• When a glass bottle is recycled, 50% less water pollution is produced than when a new glass bottle is made from virgin materials.
• Recycling 1 ton of plastic saves the equivalent of 3.85 barrels of oil.
• Recycling 23 aluminum cans conserves 1 gallon of gasoline.

Breathe free
550 Moreland is a smoke-free community. Smoking is prohibited inside apartments, homes, and common areas, and within 25 feet of the building for residents and their guests.
The facts:

• According to a recent U.S. Surgeon’s Report, there are no safe levels of exposure to secondhand smoke.
• Smoke-free apartments also greatly lower the risk of fire and help minimize cleaning and maintenance costs with savings available to be passed on to residents.
• Smoke-free apartments also create a healthier environment for adults and children with chronic illnesses such as asthma or lung disease.

Green energy
Our E-service makes it easy to do your part to fight global warming:
Make Me Green
• Do your part to fight global warming
• Offset the CO2 emissions you produce everyday
• Each WhiteFence Green purchase offsets 1,000 lbs of CO2
Give Green
• Give the gift that keeps on giving
• Offset a loved one's energy with WhiteFence Green
• Purchase clean, renewable energy today!
 
More live green ideas
More Live Green Ideas
If you are curious about learning more on how to live green check out these resources.  

Green Building Council http://www.usgbc.org/ 
Treehugger http://www.treehugger.com/
Ideal Bite http://www.idealbite.com/
Gaiam Real Goods http://www.gaiam.com/realgoods/