Our Environment

With each passing year, the number of environmental liability lawsuits continues to increase. Regulations in most industrialized countries continue to place more and more responsibility for environmental hazards on the actual property owners, even if they were the direct result of actions taken by the renter. It is now more important than ever that landlords require extensive

Possible environmental problems that can be attributed to negligent tenants include mold, improperly stored fuel or containers, and the burning of toxic materials. None of these hazards are covered by standard landlord insurance policies.

The importance of tenant referencing is especially relevant when considering the risk of renting to those who engage in illegal activities, such as the production of methamphetamine's. These activities can lead to enormous hazardous waste and immense clean up cost. Most all jurisdictions will hold the property owners liable.

If you are considering becoming a landlord, be sure to invest in the proper background checks. It may save you thousands of dollars and it could prevent damage to your local environment.

Credit card companies are jumping on the "green" bandwagon by offering their environmentally aware customers new eco-friendly options for their reward points. Customers can now use their points to buy environmentally friendly products or they can donate rewards points or earnings to their favorite environmental charity.

Stiff competition and increased scrutiny in credit card processing and credit card issuing practices have led the industry to consider new and innovative methods to appeal to new market segments. Some of the worlds largest credit card issuers are now offering green programs for their growing base of environmentally conscience customers.

Some of the new green programs include:

Consumers with a Wells Fargo rewards card can now use their points to back renewable-energy projects. With points ranging from 5,000 to 10,000, they can support the development of green power.

Bank of America's WorldPoints Rewards card holders can use points to buy environmental merchandise. Card holders will be given the option to donate points to groups that invest in greenhouse gas reduction.

Citigroup will soon add environmental products to their rewards catalog that will include recycled milk-carton furniture and compost systems.

Green Merchant Alliance, a company that provides credit card merchant services, donates 15% of it's profits to clean energy projects all at no additional cost to the participating merchants.

Bright Planet, an organization that is helping in fight against climate change, will issue a card that will donate money to clean-energy projects each time they are used.