Like his father, second-generation real estate agent Tony McManus is conscious of being a leader in his community. A prominent supporter of local social groups and sporting clubs, the family has been an active contributor to the Lara region for more than 30 years.

Last year, McManus Real Estate continued to lead by example, embracing the Grow Me The Money program. The company has since won two Grow Me The Money awards, for planning and implementation.

“I can obviously see what Grow Me The Money has done for the company, such as changing behaviour and saving money on power and paper use,” Mr McManus says.

“The value in spreading this message has been of benefit through our client base and, I’d argue, the general area.”

The most obvious example sits at the office’s front door – a striking $30,000 sustainable garden Mr McManus installed earlier in 2010. It also serves as a showroom of sorts, as he encourages investment home owners to consider the benefit for their own properties, both aesthetically and in reducing maintenance and water use.

Mr McManus has extended the Grow Me The Money message beyond the walls of his office. Property inspection checklists, for example, now include simple environmental questions prompted by the program, including ‘does the house have water-saving showerheads and dual flush toilets?’ and ‘Is the installation of a water tank possible?’ When the owner of one of his 460 listed properties receives the report, he or she also receives these options, with a simple box to tick. The McManus team does the rest.

“We have suppliers organised to install these things immediately,” Mr McManus says.

“The tenants love us too, because it saves them money on their water usage. (It’s) a classic win-win.”

The Grow Me The Money program has provided the catalyst for the changing to low energy light bulbs, the installation of timers on lights, improved recycling strategies and better management of air conditioning systems. The introduction of double-sided printing has proven to be a rewarding inclusion to office procedure.

“Considering we’re always printing five copies of a 40-page contract, that’s a significant issue,” Mr McManus points out.

Inside the doors of the McManus office, a small ‘Green Team’ has been overseeing the introduction of energy and paper saving initiatives.

“It’s been really easy to take ownership of and implement,” says McManus Green Team leader, Nicole Riemer.

“Everything’s online and within easy reach. They seem like small things but when you track them in the Grow Me The Money program you realise how much it all adds up.”

For more information on actions undertaken by the team at McManus Real Estate, visit www.growmethemoney.com.au/SuccessStories