How can Landlords Become More Eco-Friendly?

Many people are going “green” lately with increased recycling, carpooling and even adding “green” elements to their homes. Homes use up resources with energy and water use but when you rent, you have less control of the usage. While you can watch your water and heat usage, you can’t change the insulation or install a programmable thermostat like a homeowner can.

What can landlords do to become more eco-friendly in their properties? Here is a look at how to become more eco-friendly as a landlord and how to advertise this to tenants.

Why you should be eco-friendly

US residents pay over $130 billion annually in wasted energy. Water consumption has increased 127 percent from the average amount used back in 1950. It’s becoming increasingly important to become energy efficient to not only help the environment and conserve resources but also to save money.

Water Conservation

Since the average homes uses 260 gallons of water every day, landlords are smart to install low flow toilets and energy efficient shower heads in a rental. You can install water aerators in sink faucets and you should stay on top of drips and leaks that tenants report to you.

Water Heater

You can waste a lot of energy on the water heater if it’s not maintained or if it’s getting old. Make sure its running efficiently and extend its life by servicing it regularly. You’ll save money by serving it regularly than waiting for an issue to come up that needs repaired. Consider tankless water heaters in the future to save money and energy over time.

Appliances

You can get energy efficient appliances to up to 30% on electric costs and even more on water costs. As your old appliances begin to fail, consider getting energy efficient replacements.

Lights and Windows

Install motion sensor lights on porches and driveways for tenants that forget to turn the lights off. Consider solar powered path lights and energy efficient light bulbs for the exterior lights.

You’ll save money by keeping the heat or cold inside the home with new weather stripping, caulking the cracks around the windows and sealing potential drafts.

Landlords can use these tips to make their property more energy-efficient and save money and resources.