As a renter, you may not think you have a whole lot of options when it comes to saving more on energy, and so it may seem like a wasted effort to try to watch your energy use, but there are ways that you can save, too, be it through conservation efforts or by opting for a rate plan for renters. Beyond the impact it can have on the environment, it makes good financial sense.
Do renters really need to watch their energy use?
It may not seem like it, but yes, renters can save a lot by watching their energy use—and by opting for a rate plan for renters that covers the specific needs renters have. Of course, renters don’t always have the same amount of freedom when it comes to making energy-saving decisions. Whether you are renting an apartment, a house, or a room in a house, you can’t exactly go around knocking out windows and re-insulating walls. You may not even be able to switch to energy efficient appliances—although that may be something you can negotiate with your landlord. If you pay your own utilities, then you can definitely save a lot each month by conserving energy—and those monthly costs add up—and even if you don’t pay for your own utilities, finding ways to conserve energy may help keep your rental costs from climbing each year.
What can you do? Find solutions for the things you can control.
There are a lot of things you can do to save on energy. Okay, so you can’t replace the windows or reinsulate the walls, but you can buy plastic window treatments to help keep the draft out in the winter. Whether you pay for your heat or not, it will keep you warmer and your heater working less hard—and even if you don’t pay separately for your own heat, those same window treatments will also help keep your apartment or home cooler so your air conditioner doesn’t have to work so hard in the summer.
Of course, there are other ways to heat your apartment that can help you conserve energy, too. Shower with the bathroom door open so the heat from the shower warms up your whole apartment. It’s a good trick—plus the steam from the shower will help keep your apartment from getting so dry. You should also vent your stove when you are done cooking by leaving the door open a crack after the oven is turned off. The extra heat from the oven will add some extra heat to your home.
Practicality can help, too. Don’t put furniture or obstacles in front of your register or heater—they will force your heater to work harder to distribute heat around your apartment. If you have tall ceilings or lots of awkward spaces, you can use a fan to help circulate the air, even warm air in the winter. Plus, you can use the sun to your benefit: open the blinds to let the sun heat your apartment in the winter, and close the blinds to keep the extra heat out in the summer. Doing this on top of finding a proper rate plan for renters is a good way to save on your power bill.
How else can you save? Turn things off!
Turn off and unplug your electronics when you don’t need them. Most people leave laptops on or in a low power state—but they are still drawing power, and even when they are turned off, they may still be drawing power to charge their batteries. Not only can you save electricity, but you can also help prolong your battery life by unplugging electronics at night and when you are away. Most also have little lights to tell you when they are plugged in; these draw a bit of energy, too, and unplugging your wireless router at night and when you are out can also prevent your neighbours from discovering your password and stealing your Internet. Turn your lights off when you aren’t in the room, or when you don’t need them, and even if you can’t switch to energy efficient light fixtures, you can still switch to fluorescent bulbs to save more with your rate plan for renters.
And don’t forget to choose a plan that makes use of your rental situation. Most renters have fairly consistent energy consumption, so choosing a rate plan for renters should help you get more out of your energy savings.
