Let’s face it, there are loads of tips and tricks online for homeowners who want to green their lives and living spaces, but rarely do we see articles aimed at renters. In our area, renting is a way of life and those folks are extremely concerned with protecting our environment. Renters hold the same passions and bear the same responsibilities as homeowners do. They also have some unique opportunities to pay their greenness forward. Here’s how:
Search smart. It’s becoming more common for property managers and landlords to advertise online as eco-friendly, so search them out. If you are using search engines such as Trulia or Street Easy, customize your search by looking for places marked “eco-friendly” or “energy efficient”. And when you’re looking, make sure that the right location is at the top of your list of must-haves. Being near work and places you often frequent goes a long way in decreasing your carbon footprint.
Utility management. In many rental situations, the property owner covers the cost of some utilities. For some, that may take the pressure off when it comes to the bills, but for those of us with green minds, it makes perfect sense to keep usage in check. Simple awareness of turning items off when not in use—think lights, computers and small appliances—make for big savings of natural resources down the line. Also, consider purchasing a solar charger for small appliances or a portable solar panel which allows the energy from the sun to go directly into your apartment’s wiring system.
Conserve water. We realize using less water conserves energy and reduces greenhouse gases, but how can you do this in a place where installing low-flow shower heads or toilets is not an option? We love this idea from Beach Bums Realty—place a 2-liter soda bottle filled with water in your toilet tank to displace some of the water, reducing the amount used in each flush-refill cycle. You can also use monitors such as ShowerTime to track the amount of water you use in the shower and to set off an alarm when you reach your limit.
Green maintenance. Treating your home—rented or not—with environmentally friendly products and procedures means you’ll pass your green environment on to the next tenants or owners. Start on the right foot by opting for a green cleaning prior to moving in, such as the services offered by GreenHouse Eco-Cleaning and consider having them visit regularly. If you’re a DIYer, choose environmentally friendly products to do the job. And when you move, be sure to share your home’s eco-friendly history with whoever takes ownership after you.
Green your landlord. Even if your landlord is not the earth-loving type, appeal to his or her business side—show the cost-effectiveness of creating a more green space. Some ideas you can share: replace outdoor lights with LED or motion-activated lights, install timers for sprinklers, replace old appliances with Energy Star products, caulk windows and add programmable thermostats—all of which will not only make your building more earth-friendly, but will lower overall costs for your landlord.
Talk to us: What do you think? Is being green as important in a rented home as it is in one you own? We’d love to learn how you’re keeping your rented home or apartment green.
image courtesy of BY CC 2.0