{"id":104669,"date":"2020-04-27T02:48:08","date_gmt":"2020-04-27T09:48:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/?p=104669"},"modified":"2026-01-15T01:02:06","modified_gmt":"2026-01-15T09:02:06","slug":"lower-energy-costs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rentcafe.com\/blog\/budgeting\/lower-energy-costs\/","title":{"rendered":"5 Ways to Lower Energy Costs in Your Rental"},"content":{"rendered":"

When you don\u2019t own your home, it can feel like it\u2019s impossible to lower your energy costs. A lot of energy-efficiency comes down to a building\u2019s construction and the materials used. When you rent, you don\u2019t have control o<\/span>ver<\/span>\u00a0those things.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re lucky enough to\u00a0<\/span>be<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>in<\/span>\u00a0a building or property with\u00a0<\/span>insulated concrete panels<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>or other energy-saving construction, you\u2019re already ahead of the curve. However, if you live in an older building, you aren\u2019t out of luck.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>You can still take charge and increase your energy-efficiency and lower your energy bills.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Here are five ideas to lower your energy costs.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Seal the Windows<\/h2>\n

Windows are a prime problem area for energy waste. If windows don\u2019t fit correctly or if they aren\u2019t sealed, you could be paying way more than you should on your monthly bill. This is because any openings around the window can allow outside air to come inside your home. Whether you want to keep it cool or warm it up, if the outside air is seeping through your window, you\u2019re going to pay for it.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Simple<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>window weatherproofing<\/span><\/a>\u00a0isn\u2019t too complicated either. You can order window sealing caulk online or\u00a0<\/span>from<\/span>\u00a0your favorite home improvement store. Then, simply seal the windows and\u00a0close up\u00a0any gaps or cracks to make sure your windows aren\u2019t letting any air inside.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Invest in a Smart Thermostat<\/h2>\n

Smart thermostats are an innovative way to save on electricity costs. They allow you to control your thermostat from all your smart devices. The benefit is that you can program your thermostat to run only when you need it to run. For instance, you can set the temperature higher during the day when you\u2019re gone, and have it start cooling down around the time you come home from work.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"smart<\/p>\n

Since you can control it from anywhere, it\u2019s also fantastic for those times when you accidentally leave the system running while you\u2019re on vacation or out of the house for a bit. While most landlords are open to smart thermostats, be sure to check with yours before installing a new system.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Change the Air Filters<\/h2>\n

It\u2019s no surprise that the HVAC system (i.e., the heating and cooling system)<\/a> is responsible for a significant portion of your electricity bills. This is especially the case when the weather is extremely hot or incredibly cold. There\u2019s no getting around running your system, but you can get it to run more efficiently.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Be sure to regularly change your air filters. An old filter gets dirty, which puts stress on your HVAC system, causing it to work harder, which runs up your electric bill. Air filters are relatively cheap, too. And you only need to replace them every sixty to ninety days for optimum efficiency.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs<\/h2>\n

LED energy-efficient light bulbs are a terrific way to cut back on electricity costs. A home\u2019s lighting accounts for\u00a0<\/span>about 5%<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span>of your total electricity usage. These bulbs boast an array of benefits. Not only are they more energy-efficient, but they also generate less heat. If you live in a hot climate, the warmth of your standard light bulbs could be running up the temperature in your house, causing you to crank on that air conditioner<\/span>.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

\"energy<\/p>\n

Additionally, LED lights last around ten years. So, while they cost a little bit more upfront, you won\u2019t have to replace them for a long time.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Adjust Your Habits<\/h2>\n

We\u2019re all probably guilty of a few bad habits. Be sure to turn off lights and appliances when you aren\u2019t using them. Consider turning the thermostat up or down a few degrees. Use your microwave instead of your stove when possible because it generates less electricity, and it doesn\u2019t heat up the rest of the house. Unplug power cords when you\u2019re not charging things. If you have a washer and dryer in your rental, try to only wash full loads instead of partial ones.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All these little habit changes can add up in the long run and help lower your energy costs substantially<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n

Just because you rent<\/span>\u00a0your apartment it<\/span>\u00a0doesn\u2019t mean you<\/span>\u2019<\/span>r<\/span>e<\/span>\u00a0doomed to high electricity bills. You can still lower the energy costs in your home. These five ideas are just a few to get you started. If you get creative, you\u2019ll realize there are lots of other ways to cut on electricity costs, too.<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Start making little changes today and watch your energy bills start to drop.\u00a0<\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When you don\u2019t own your home, it can feel like it\u2019s impossible to lower your energy costs. A lot of energy-efficiency comes down to a building\u2019s construction and the materials used. When you rent, you don\u2019t have control over\u00a0those things.\u00a0\u00a0 If you\u2019re lucky enough to\u00a0be\u00a0in\u00a0a building or property with\u00a0insulated concrete panels\u00a0or other energy-saving construction, you\u2019re…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":55,"featured_media":104686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[38969],"tags":[38981,38964],"class_list":["post-104669","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-budgeting","tag-renting-costs","tag-utilities","gallery-content-unit"],"yoast_head":"\n5 Ways to Lower Energy Costs in Your Rental - RentCafe rental blog<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Even as a renter, there are many ways in which you can lower energy costs in your apartment. 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