Renter-Friendly Sustainable Tips
Renter-Friendly Ways to Save Money on Electricity While Helping the Planet!
Written by CSAC Member Katie Beglinger
Saving money on electricity goes hand in hand with reducing our impact on the planet by lowering carbon emissions. Often, when we talk about reducing energy costs, we focus on switching to energy-efficient appliances or weatherproofing your home. But these solutions aren’t accessible to renters, who typically have no control over these major actions. So how can renters (and homeowners alike!) make their homes more energy efficient? Here are 10 simple tips!
- Turn off lights when you’re not in a room. This directly reduces energy consumption and utility bills, while also keeping your light bulbs working longer!
- Lower your thermostat at night. During winter, when home and awake, set your thermostats to 68°F for comfort. When you are out of the house, or it is nighttime, reduce the temperature to 58-65°F. Every 1 degree you lower the thermostat for 8 hours can reduce your heating bill by roughly 1%!
- During the day, rely on natural light. Apartments often have fewer windows, so try to optimize the light by decorating with light colors and placing mirrors throughout the home to reflect natural light. Allowing sunlight into your space in winter also helps keep rooms warm without needing a heater.
- Replace incandescent light bulbs with LEDs. LEDs use 75% less electricity and last longer.
- Run large appliances midday (10 am-4 pm) or in the evening (9 pm-5 am). Under the “Time-of-Use” PG&E rate plan, energy rates are lower during these times because demand for electricity is lower. During midday, energy is more likely to come from renewable sources when the sun is out and the wind is blowing.
- Wash clothes in cold water and air dry. Modern detergents can effectively clean clothes and remove stains in cold water, while air-drying clothes significantly reduces the energy consumed by a dryer. Not only do these actions save energy, but they will reduce the wear and tear on your clothes!
- Unplug appliances when not in use. Some appliances, known as vampire appliances, continue to draw electricity even when they’re turned off. When not in use, unplug small kitchen appliances, TVs, computers, and charging cables.
- Reverse ceiling fans. Set fans to run clockwise at low speed in the winter to push warm air down. In the summer, set fans counterclockwise to create a breeze.
- Leave the oven door cracked after baking while it cools. Your oven produces a lot of heat! When finished baking, turn off the oven immediately and crack the door to let the residual heat warm the room around you.
- Create a hygge space. The Danish concept of hygge (pronounced “hoo-ga”) is about finding happiness in coziness, comfort, and togetherness. To reduce the need for heating during the winter, dress warmly and use blankets. While just a small flame, candles can create enough heat to warm a small room by a degree or two. Drinking warm water or a hot drink can help warm up your body. Not only do these small actions reduce energy consumption, but they create that cozy hygge environment perfect for the winter months!