Sustainable Living

Green Apartment Living : Energy Saving Tips

Tips for Renters

Renters can save money and practice sustainable apartment living! Today we’re going to talk about energy saving tips for renters. When you don’t have complete control over your living circumstances, it can seem impossible to save green, whether money or energy. Sometimes making these lifestyles can require more money, or maybe more control over your living situation.
The biggest hurtles to saving green are:
  • Heating
  • Air Conditioning
  • Lighting
  • Clothes Washer
  • Clothes Dryer
  • Refrigerator (if it was made before 2001)
  • Water Heater

All these are pretty difficult to control when in a renters setting or with low income. But with these energy saving tips, renters can save money and energy no matter what. These energy saving tips are also helpful for people who can’t afford to update appliances or other energy saving measures.

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Over the past three years, I’ve lived in a space that wasn’t my own and was limited on the changes I could make. It was an upstairs apartment with huge leaky windows, and an air conditioner on it’s way out. My roommate and I were mislead about the electric bills.  Our first month, a summer month, we were caught by surprise with a $250 electric bill.  When putting this kind of information in a carbon footprint calculator, I was paying for this in more ways than one.

Energy Saving Tips

The next month, even hotter, was $300. I could say good-bye to any opportunity to save green when my nice big ceiling fan broke and was replaced with a cheap, small one. Our fridge from who knows when, was replaced with a cheap one and our air conditioner finally went out, replaced with a very inefficient beast AND the nice old shade tree we had snapped in half and was removed. Luckily, these experiences taught me a thing or two on how renters can save money when they get smart and save green. Our only saving grace, was that we had a gas stove and heater.
I was trying to be a nice roommate that didn’t cook the other, but that went out the window after July. We simply couldn’t afford to keep paying that kind of bill. We bumped it up to 75 and up to 90 when we left the house for long periods of time. If we turned the air off, it would be about 15 degress hotter than it was outside. Even with the air on all the time, it still felt like sitting in a greenhouse because of the huge windows. After a whole month of sweating, we only saved $30.

Energy Saving Ideas

That winter was my time to plan. I made blackout curtains for the living room, which cost me way more than I thought it would, (I would recommend buying blackout curtains, if you want to save money) got regular curtains for bedrooms from the thrift store.
It helped, but the next year the highest it got was still $218. Still unacceptable. Both my roommate and I started working from home, so it was important we find the right solution. This winter I did some major research and found bubble wrap and newspaper were great insulators. Who would have thought? I put it up in time for this summer to try it out. It’s by no means cute, but I was willing to sacrifice. I just got my first summer bill and I saved $80 even with the air conditioner running at 75. And the best part is, it actually feels cool in the apartment. You can also hire experts such as these electrical services St. Simons Island, GA to check your electrical fixtures and see if there’s faulty ones that rack up your bills.
This inspired me to get in the ultra green gear. Where were the areas renters can save money without making any repairs to the apartment?

Energy Saving Tips for Summer

  1. Even if you’re not in such a desperate situation, turning it up 2-5 degrees, when you’re not home, will save some green.
  2. What made the biggest difference for us, was adding a layer of bubble wrap and newspaper to the window. Not pretty, but for those concerned with aesthetic this window kit might be a good option.
  3. Keep your filters changed monthly so they run more efficiently. Also, keep your outside unit hosed out so the dirt doesn’t collect in there and bog it down.
  4. In the summer,  fans will be your best friend. They go such a long way to keep things cooled down. Insulated Garage Door Installations will also help keep your home comfortable in hot climates.
  5. Wear light clothing, and try a cool neck towel.
  6. Depending on your situation, purchasing a room air conditioner might be the fit. Consider an ENERGY STAR qualified model, which use at least 10 percent less energy than standard models. If you don’t use all the rooms in you apartment this might be a good option. High-Resolution Infrared Surveys can also help you make informed decisions about how to improve the energy efficiency of your home.

Energy Saving Tips for Winter


Most of the previously mentioned energy saving tips can be used in the winter too. Instead of setting the thermostat, 2-5 degrees up, you’ll want to set 2 -5 degrees down. Keep your bubble wrap and newspaper up and clean out any filters for your heater. Keeping your home heating system in peak condition by getting professional heating repair services will also help lower its energy consumption. Always consider Energy Star appliances when replacing your old stove, water heater or heaters. If you observe any issues with your water heater, it’s advisable to contact a professional for tankless water heater repairs to prevent further complications and ensure the longevity of your system. Make sure they are well-equipped and have received professional training, similar to the professionals at plumber Adelaide when searching for a plumber to handle water heater repairs. Contact Anthony Tisdale Plumbing for drain cleaning Lynchburg.

Energy Saving Tips for Appliances

  1. Don’t forget to include some routine maintenance for your appliances. Monthly, take a moment to vacuum the coils on the back of your refrigerator and remove the grate from the front to clear any debris that may have accumulated underneath. And while you’re at it, remember that to ensure you always have power for your cleaning tasks, The Dyson sv03 battery is compatible with all Dyson V6 vacuums.
  2. Keep the doors closed as much as possible.
  3. Keep them full but not too packed so they don’t use too much power.
  4. Get a thermometer and make sure they are running at the right temperature. Freezers should be -10 to 0 and refrigerators should be around 35ish or 40.

Energy Saving Tips for Washing Machine

  1. Switching from warm water to cold water can cut one load’s energy use by more than half, and by using a cold-water detergent, and your clothes will be just as clean.
  2. Wash full loads when possible. Your washing machine will use the same amount of energy no matter the size of the clothes load.
  3. Loads will dry faster and more evenly if you separate heavier cottons like linens and towels from your lightweight clothing. You can also add a dry towel, which will speed up the drying process.
  4. Dryer balls, usually wool or rubber, will help keep clothes separated for faster drying, and they can help reduce static. They are reusable so you can eliminate dryer sheets.
  5. Switching loads while the dryer is warm allows you to take advantage of the remaining heat from the previous cycle.
  6. Clean the lint filter after each drying cycle. If you use dryer sheets, remember to scrub the filter once a month with a toothbrush to remove excess buildup.
  7. When it’s time to purchase a new washer or dryer, look for the ENERGY STAR® label. New washers and dryers that receive the ENERGY STAR® rating use about 20% less energy than conventional models. Don’t hesitate to call in a plumber from Graham and Sons Plumbing in Sydney if you notice any unusual smells or sounds coming from your plumbing as it might signal an underlying issue.

Water Saving Tips for Renters

  1. A ten minute shower can use less water than a full bath.
  • With a new 2.5 gallon-per-minute (low-flow) shower head, a 10-minute shower will use about 25 gallons of water, saving you five gallons of water over a typical bath. A new showerhead also will save energy — up to $145 each year on electricity — beating out both the bath and an old-fashioned showerhead.

2. Save water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them before loading in the dishwasher. Run your dishwasher with a full load and use the air-dry option if available.

3. If you don’t have a dishwasher, scrape the dishes then put them in a sink filled with soapy water, clean, then rinse.

4. Displace Water in Your Toilet Tank Find a plastic bottle. Fill it with gravel. Place it in your toilet tank. You can leave this for the next tenant or take it with you.

Other Energy Conservation Tips for Renters

  1. Computers, hair dryers, televisions, opening the windows when you can, are things easily in your control. When it’s time to update, make sure you make choices with the environment in mind.
  2. Unplug. When you’re not using these items, make sure they’re turned off and unplugged.
  3. Green Lighting. Whether it’s turning off the lights when you’re not using them or updating to compact fluorescent bulbs can save you $100s each year.
  4. Seal. Make sure everything from your doors and windows to oven is sealed properly to prevent the cool or heat from escaping.

Related Life Skills for Good Living

Check out some of my other resources about green apartment living: 18 Ways Renters Can Save Money, Apartment Composting with Worms, Apartment Composting without Worms, Sustainable Apartment Living, and Gardening in Small Spaces.

Green Apartment Living

When you don’t have complete control over your living circumstances, it can seem impossible for renters to save money or energy. However, green apartment living isn’t as difficult as some might think. It’s important to remember renters can save money. Just start small and be encouraged by those differences that start to add up. These tips or combinations will help save green, not just for our pocketbooks, but also for the environment. For a complete guide to green apartment living, check out this book:

 

Hopefully, this ideas will give you inspiration for your own sustainable apartment living ideas! Feel free to share your best tips in the comments below! Don’t forget to save this information for later!

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