EcoHearth Environmental Website - Best ecology websites, environmental blogs, news, activism, green jobs, green products

Much of the advice on how to keep a green home is for homeowners. However, nearly a third of US households live in rental housing where lack of ownership prevents many of the structural changes often suggested (i.e., triple-pane windows or solar panels). Yet there are things renters can do to keep a green home. Best of all, many of these are simple and inexpensive:

Lighting
If your rented home has incandescent light bulbs, replace them with compact fluorescent (CFL) or light-emitting diode (LED) bulbs. Either of these is more efficient than incandescent bulbs (CFLs use four times less energy, and LEDs use 10 to 50 times less). Despite higher purchase costs, they are cheaper in the long run, not only because of energy savings, but due to a longer bulb life. Incandescent bulbs generally last 1,500 hours, while CFLs last around 10,000 and LEDs a whopping 60,000! Whichever bulb type you choose, you can take them with you when you vacate (if you save and replace the incandescent bulbs). Or you can leave them to aid the next tenant in renting green.

Appliances
If your rented home has no appliances, install energy-efficient ones, such as those with an Energy Star rating. Barring that, make sure to maintain the appliances provided. A refrigerator can use up to 15% of the energy in a home. A monthly dusting of the cooling coils on the back of a fridge helps it remove heat better, thus saving energy. Also check the door grommet (the seal around the door) for wear. A worn grommet can leak cool air and make the fridge work harder. If it has an icemaker that you’re not using, or is not working, turn it off. Lastly, should a landlord-supplied appliance need replacing, request that the new unit be energy efficient.

Heating and A/C

Lower your thermostat's temperature in winter and raise it in summer. You'll not only significantly lower your carbon footprint, but you'll save money on any utilities you buy to power your heating and cooling.

During cold months, set your thermostat to 68 degrees F or lower in the day (and wear a sweater) and 55 degrees F or lower at night (and add an extra blanket). Assuming you don't have pets or relatives who stay at home, you can also lower your thermostat while you are at work or otherwise out of the apartment. Many newer thermostat's allow dual settings for day and night. If you don't have one of these, you can make the adjustments manually.

In the summer, wear less and use a fan instead of air-conditioning on all but the hottest days. When you must use air-conditioning, set your thermostat no lower than 78 degrees F. Turn off the air-conditioning when aren't there and it's not needed

Also, it's very important to keep heating and air conditioning working efficiently by regularly replacing air filters on furnaces and central-air units, or cleaning and drying the reusable filters of window A/C units.

Of course, one of the best ways to ensure heating and cooling efficiency is keep hot or cold air from escaping through windows and doors. Apply seals around them; replace worn or leaky ones. You should also draw drapes on windows in direct sunlight in summer and open them where there is direct sun in the winter.

Water
Although installing low-flow toilets is an unlikely option for renters, the simple swap of a showerhead can save water and the energy needed to heat it. Install a showerhead with an on/off switch to save water while you soap up. This usually costs just a few dollars, and like the replacement light bulbs, you can take the showerhead with you when you vacate and simply replace the original, or generously leave the water-saving showerhead for the next tenant. Similarly, installation of aerators on sinks or shower heads saves water and are easily removed when you vacate. Since most landlords pay for water, they may be willing to spring for water-saving devices if you ask them. If they pay, you should, of course, leave them when you vacate.

Recycling
Curbside recycling is a great convenience for many homeowners, but if the curb is 10 stories below your rented apartment home, recycling services may not be available. If your rental does not have the option of recycling pickup, get on the Internet and search for a local recycling center to take your recyclables. Another option is to organize the tenants in your building and petition the landlord for a building-wide recycling program.

Renting Green
One of the best ways to live green as a renter is to rent green. Many newly built single-family homes, apartments and townhouses are specifically designed for ecological sustainability. They often feature energy-efficient appliances and windows, water-saving plumbing fixtures such as low-flow toilets and tankless water heaters, recycling services and Earth Advantage building standards.

Even as a renter,  there are many steps you can take to live green, which in the long run saves you money and lessens your impact on the environment. After implementing the above actions, you can then explain to your neighbors how renting green can help the Earth and save them some green as well. After all, the more people living sustainably, the better.

Further recommended reading:
Find Recycling Facilities Near You
Search for Green Rental Properties Near You
Green Home Glossary: Your Guide to Eco-Home Terminology, Ideas and Definitions

Updated 9/6/10; originally posted 8/10/09.

Comments (7)

Show/Hide comments

Write comment