Some energy-saving recommendations for tenants
One of the burning topics of the current age is Energy Conservation. According to the studies conducted by various agencies, the statistics concerning Carbon emissions generated all over the world are appalling. Despite various innovations and solutions aiming to minimize global warming, with each passing year, the numbers seem to go up the scale rather than go down it. The actual situation is unimaginable simply by looking at the data. However, inflation and rising bills will affect energy consumption in the long run.
Encourage Renters' Rewards for Energy Conservation
The rental agreement often included the energy-saving incentives. Usually, tenants with a lackadaisical approach demonstrate less or no commitment to energy conservation. Some renters pay directly for their energy use, and others pay it as part of their rental agreement. About a quarter of the population pays their consumption charges through their rent, meaning they have no idea what their actual usage costs are.
The downside of this arrangement is that due to the irresponsible behaviour of the tenant, the landlord is obligated to cough up higher energy bills, causing the rent to increase in order to recover the excess paid. This directly impacts the budget of the renter. Hence all tenants must reflect on their consumption pattern by carefully considering the advantages and adopt methods of energy conservation.
1. Energy efficient heating solution
According to research, a significant portion of homes in the United States and France are rented, and for these homeowners, heating is a big factor in the rising cost of energy.
Always install the radiators in an area with adequate ventilation and close the curtains when you're not using them to achieve optimal performance. Obstructing the radiators with unnecessary furniture or stuffing the room with storage may reduce effectiveness.
Consciously lowering the thermostat's temperature, shutting the windows at night, turning off the heat in empty rooms, and programming the heating switch to turn on only when you are home are some of the tried-and-true methods for conserving a significant amount of energy. You can save 10% on your costs by altering your everyday energy habits and controlling your energy consumption.
Make sure to regularly clean or change the filters in your houses whenever you use the air conditioner or heater because filthy ones require more labour, which increases energy consumption.
2. Keeping the kitchen energy-efficient
We frequently overlook the fact that cooking on the proper-sized hob might improve the energy efficiency of our kitchen. For smaller pots, use a smaller hob; for larger pots, use a larger hob. Keep the cover on while cooking as well to reduce heat loss and facilitate quicker cooking.
One can choose between an electric hob, a gas hob or an induction hob, among other alternatives. The induction hob has the advantage of being more energy-efficient than conventional cooking techniques, using about 70% less energy. Additionally, if you decide to move to another rental flat, there are no installation issues and it is portable.
3. Energy-saving refrigerators and freezers
Reduce the temperature in your refrigerator to save more energy. According to studies, refrigerators account for about 13.5% of all domestic energy consumption. Modern refrigerator models, as opposed to older ones that used a lot of electricity, include several energy-saving features thanks to advancements in technology.
If you rent an apartment, the amenities provided by your landlord will be listed in the rental agreement. However, if you see that the kitchen's refrigerator is an older model, you can talk to them about if it might be possible to replace it with a new model to avoid paying a higher energy cost.
The equipment has to work harder to maintain an ideal temperature when the fridge door is opened frequently, which commonly results in significant energy usage. According to experts, a fridge that is fully packed uses less electricity than one that is just partially full. Another significant energy-saving practice is timely replenishment and routine defrosting of food.
4. Regular maintenance of the apartment for enhanced energy efficiency
Always examine your doors and windows for cracks or other damage, whether you are a landlord or the owner of the property, to prevent air leaks. A damaged structure can lose heat, which would raise your energy costs. Make sure the landlord has scheduled routine maintenance, and if you chance to notice any damaged areas, notify the landlord right away and follow up on the issue until it is resolved. Don't let that money go to waste because you are paying for warm air in the winter and cool air in the summer.
Remember it is the landlord’s responsibility to repair the property’s structure.
5. Energy efficiency with LED lighting
Regardless of where you reside, check the lighting setup. Most frequently, numerous properties continue to use their incandescent tubes and bulbs. Because incandescent light bulbs emit more heat than light, they use a lot of energy. It surely has a low energy efficiency rating.
Due to their higher efficiency and lower power consumption, LED bulbs are popular. It consumes 5–8 times less energy than incandescent lights because it requires less energy than conventional light bulbs. The finest aspect is that because the majority of energy used is transformed to light, there is little to no heat loss. Because of its better efficiency, which generates significant savings, and longevity—some of them can even last 12 years, which is 40 times longer than an incandescent bulb or tube—it is strongly advised. Furthermore, since it doesn't contain mercury, this is a better option if you care about the environment.
Since they may be made to order, you can get them in a variety of styles, dimensions, and hues to suit your preferences and the time of year.
In addition to this, turn off the lights in empty rooms and try to let as much natural light in as you can during the day.
6. Disconnecting to conserve energy
Numerous electrical appliances are used in millions of households nowadays to enhance comfort and productivity.
Regardless of whether a home is owned by its resident or is rented out, on average each residence has two televisions. We leave our televisions on whether or not anyone is watching without taking into account how much energy is being used. The energy used in standby mode may appear to be a little 5% of the overall energy it uses, but over time, it will add up to a large amount.
In addition, our routine infatuation with technology—namely, PCs, laptops, and mobile devices—only makes waste worse. Well-monitored usage can reduce our energy expenses by a respectable amount. This includes things like keeping the devices on charge overnight or playing games or music to pass the time.
Conclusion
Tenants and owners are not the only ones who should conserve energy. Since everyone needs it, people should try to save energy and reduce carbon emissions. Additionally, being aware of your usage might help you calculate the amount of money you have saved on bills. Tenants who pay their energy bills in person are in charge of their costs and have the freedom to modify their usage. It becomes simpler to prevent energy waste if you realise how much money you can save.