Energy-saving tips for tenants
If you’re renting a property and are determined to lower the costs of energy bills, take a look at the following useful energy-saving tips for tenants.
Insulation
It is far easier and cheaper to prevent your home getting cooler, than it is to heat it up. Poorly-fitted windows, gaps under doors, or just leaving doors open, can all cause draughts which is the same as having several fans blowing cold air around. You can fix these problems cheaply if you are a tenant with draught excluders, expanding foam in cracks and even just laying some carpeting down and thick curtains at the windows. If you are a prospective tenant always look for a property that has double glazing and find out if cavity wall insulation has ever been carried out if the property is old. Also, ask your prospective landlord or letting agency about the loft insulation.
Light
Lighting uses a lot of electricity over the course of the year, so when not in a room turn them off. Try using the new forms of LED lighting, they last longer and use a lot less energy and these days are just as bright as the old style bulbs.
Turn things off and turn the thermostat down
Refrain from leaving items on standby all day and night, if it’s not necessary then turn them off. Use thermostats when possible and even cut the heating down a little, for every draught you successfully plug up. Turning down the thermostat by only 1°C can save as much as £60 per year in energy bills. If you are going out for the day or even on holiday don’t turn the heating off altogether if its winter, freezing pipes can cause so much damage, set the boiler to provide background heat.
Save Energy in the Kitchen
It’s not uncommon for youngsters to live by their microwave and ready meals, rather than using an oven, but by doing so they consume a lot of energy. Make sure if you do use a microwave in a rental property, it has a good energy rating. If you use an oven, don’t keep opening the door to see how things are doing, instead clean the front glass more often!
Even bake a few meals at a time in it and then freeze them. Likewise, to save money further, always boil with lids on pans. Don’t use the dishwasher if there are only a few dishes and why boil a kettle full of water just to make one cup of tea?
About 90 % of energy expenditure in your old washing machine is used on just heating the water, 30 degrees centigrade is enough. And freezers and fridges are far more efficient when full. If you can’t afford to stock them with food, pack the spaces with water filled plastic bottles.
It may all seem a bit of an effort but by combine these energy saving ideas you will spend a lot less on your energy bills in your rented property.