Serving BIO Jell-O Cool Whip Fruit Salad at your building?

The idea of combining Bio fruit with Jell-O and Cool Whip seems absurd to me.  Cool Whip in particular just doesn’t share Bio fruit’s reputation for being good for you.

In fact, I eat lots of things that are not particularly good for me, and combining Jell-O with Cool Whip and fruit could be pretty tasty.  But if I was going to do that, I would not pay a premium price for bio fruit.

So when tenants move into a “sustainable” building we’re managing, do we have an obligation to steer them away from actions which are “Cool Whip equivalents”?  How forceful can we be? 

There’s a fine line between being a proponent and being preachy.  Between being  concerned and being a crusader.  Unfortunately, that line is in a different place for each of us.

Of course, that doesn’t mean there is no room for agreement – and so that seems like a good place to start.  Participating in a recycling program has obvious value and – properly implemented – does not need to inconvenience anyone in the building.  On the other hand, car pooling and using electric vehicles just can not be mandated.

Even those things that everyone agrees on will require a change in behavior, and change is never easy.  As tenants take occupancy of your sustainable building, you need to have programs  in place to help and encourage them to change their behavior. 

If you’re managing a new LEED certified building, you should have green leases in place to support your efforts – but as we all know reality rarely mirrors the lease.  Policies and rules do not change behavior or corporate culture – that can only be accomplished by people.

So, what do you think is reasonable to mandate? 

What programs have you put in place to support tenants in changing their behavior?

And let me know if you need the recipe for the building canteen.