As a tenant, it can be challenging to save energy in a rented home since you don’t own the property and may have limited control over certain aspects of the building. However, there are still many things you can do to reduce your energy consumption and lower your bills. In this article, we’ll provide some tips on how to save energy in a rented home.
Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
One of the easiest ways to save energy in a rented home is to replace your traditional light bulbs with energy-efficient LED bulbs. LED bulbs use up to 80% less energy than traditional bulbs and last much longer, so you’ll save money on both your electricity bills and the cost of replacing bulbs.
Keep Your Heating Under Control
If you have control over your heating system, be sure to set it to a comfortable but reasonable temperature. Turning down the thermostat by just one degree can dramatically reduce your heating bill. You should also ensure that your radiators aren’t obstructed by furniture, curtains or other items that could block the heat from benefitting the room.
Draught Proofing
Draught proofing is a cheap and effective way to save energy in a rented home. Draughts can cause heat to escape from your property, making your heating system work harder than it needs to. You can easily draught proof your home by installing draught excluders on doors, sealing gaps around windows with weather stripping and sealing gaps around skirting boards.
Use Appliances Efficiently
One of the biggest culprits of high energy bills is inefficient use of appliances. Be sure to turn off appliances when you’re not using them, and don’t leave them on or in standby mode. You should also avoid using high-energy appliances like tumble dryers and electric heaters unless it’s absolutely necessary.
Check Your Hot Water Tank
If you have control over your hot water tank, be sure to set it to the right temperature. Ideally, it should be set at 60 degrees Celsius to prevent the growth of harmful bacteria, but any higher than this is a waste of energy. You should also ensure that the tank is properly insulated to prevent heat loss.
Consider Using a Clothesline
Using a clothesline instead of a tumble dryer is not only better for the environment but can also save you money. Tumble dryers use a lot of energy, and by using a clothesline, you’ll be able to dry your clothes for free.
Make Small Changes
Finally, there are many small changes you can make that can add up to significant energy savings over time. For example, turning off lights when you leave a room, using a kettle instead of boiling a pan of water, and closing curtains at night to keep heat in can all help to reduce your energy consumption.
There are many ways to save energy in a rented home. By using energy-efficient light bulbs, keeping your heating under control, draught-proofing your home, using appliances efficiently, checking your hot water tank, considering a clothesline and making small changes, you can reduce your energy bills and help to protect the environment.
