Smart Energy Top Tips for Tenants & Sitters

Whether you are a homeowner, tenant or long term sitter you need to consider these smart energy top tips ahead of Winter. They could drastically reduce your energy costs and wastage. Read on to learn our top tips for smart energy use.

lighted light bulb — Choosing the right light bulbs is one of our smart energy top tips

Photo by Saya Kimura

Smart Energy Tips for Renters and Landlords: Cut Costs and Boost Efficiency

Soaring energy costs are impacting everyone, renters and landlords alike. So what’s the good news? You don’t have to make big changes to see savings. There are minor changes that save you energy and, in turn, lower your electric bill, without living uncomfortably.

It may be turning the thermostat down a degree or two, or getting rid of the last big, horrible, incandescent bulb in the house and replacing it with an LED. While landlords can invest in upgrades that are a long-term investment, renters can develop energy-saving habits that will yield savings now. Continue reading below as we break down how to save energy and money, including possible problems you may encounter in the process.

How Renters Can Save Power Without Sacrificing Comfort

As a renter, learning how to save on your electric bill can make a significant difference in reducing monthly expenses.. Focus on things you can control, habits or routines, wants, and/or needs that are low-cost.

Here are four ways to save costs without reducing your comfort level.

Adjust Habits First

The first and cheapest home cost-saving method is to change your habits. Turn off lights every time you leave a room, unplug appliances/devices that are always using a small amount of power, open your curtains during daytime hours, etc.

In the winter, drop the thermostat 1 or 2 degrees and add a sweater to your daily wardrobe. You will not believe the difference a couple of degrees can make. What about summer? When it is uncomfortable, you can minimize the transfer of heat by keeping the blinds closed.

a solar mobile power pack is one of our smart energy top tips — A solar mobile battery pack is one of our smart energy top tips, often favoured by tenants and housesitters on the move

Photo by Lukas

Low-Cost Fixes for Big Savings

Invest a little money today to save a lot of money later. The most cost-effective energy-saving option is to exchange incandescent and CFL bulbs for LED bulbs, which use 75% less energy and last for years.

A $5 draft stopper under a door or a window insulation film will help keep heat where it belongs, and smart power strips will minimize vampire energy waste. These improvements are easy and inexpensive to make, can be removed at any time, and do not require the landlord’s consent.

Working With Your Landlord

Some upgrades will require permission. Shape requests around mutually beneficial opportunities: “Energy-efficient appliances may help you attract future tenants.” Perhaps you can offer to split the costs associated with a programmable thermostat, or point out tax incentives. If it’s a low-hassle, and it increases value to the property, the landlord may say yes. Being politely persistent with working with your landlord may yield good and consistent results in your energy use.

Landlord Upgrades That Lower Utility Costs

Image Alt Text: Person Doing Laundry

Smart energy upgrades make tenants happy since they allow them to save money. Smart upgrades can also potentially raise property value and lower costs. The money saving can happen immediately, but some require an upfront cost.

Quick Wins for Immediate Savings

Small changes can lead to significant impacts. Programmable thermostats will ensure that tenants save energy by default. Air sealing around windows and doors will lessen wasted heating and cooling.

Insulating attics or basements allows the temperature in the home to stabilize in energy-intensive areas. These simple and inexpensive repairs can assist in reducing HVAC wear, which means reducing maintenance.

Bigger Investments With Long-Term Payoff

If you are replacing appliances, look for ENERGY STAR-qualified appliances. Consider solar panels or a more efficient HVAC system if you want to replace them instead. However, check your state for any rebates associated with these upgrades.

These upgrades are expensive at the beginning, but they contribute to resale and ongoing costs (they will pay for themselves). Consider ROI – an investment could be based on your current incentives and enrollment profile in rentals.

Take Advantage of Incentives

Similar to flood insurance, compensation is available in the northern area of Virginia for energy efficiency retrofits, locally in the form of tax credits for solar installation and having a Wi-Fi enabled thermostat, so be sure to check out local programs prior to making any upgrades. Even little incentives can add up and lessen costs, making green upgrades a better investment at any level for property owners.

Encouraging Tenants to Conserve Energy

Since property owners cannot control tenants’ usage patterns, they can encourage smart energy use and potentially make conservation a win-win opportunity for everyone with a little finesse. Here are some suggestions for encouraging cooperation without being too pushy.

Landlords can’t control tenant habits, but they can encourage smart energy use. The right approach makes conservation feel like a win-win.

Here’s how to encourage cooperation without overstepping.

Be Direct About the Benefits: Costs are on tenants’ minds – you should be communicating energy-saving tips as cost-saving tips. A simple seasonal message email suggesting tenants turn down their thermostats a few degrees can be very useful.

Make Conserving Simple: Start tenants with LED bulbs or smart power strips on move-in. Include energy-saving tips as part of the lease agreement and/or welcome packets. When renters read about you doing your part of the partnership, they are more likely to do theirs, and small suggestive constancies can help form habitual routines.

Consider Incentives for Going Green: You may want to offer incentives to tenants who conserve energy, for example, rent credits for always being energy efficient. Or, if they performed an upgrade and it resulted in a lower utility bill, perhaps provide them 50% of the savings. When renters can see the results of their partnership directly, the effort will likely equal theirs.

Saving energy does not require big changes – it is working together. Renters can build green habits, landlords can make the investment for energy efficiency, and both can reap the benefits of saving some money.

Smart Energy Top Tips in Conclusion

In summary, energy efficiency in rental properties boils down to collaboration. For renters, there are simple habits that they can adopt that save them money immediately, and for landlords, there’s money that they can spend on upgrades that may save them money later.

The strongest results are realized when tenants and landlords collaborate, whether that collaboration is tenants changing their behaviours or an owner improving their property for efficiency.

If you want more personalized approaches, consider partnering with property managers. Effective Northern Virginia property management can significantly reduce vacancy rates and maintenance issues.