Set the thermostat to the highest comfortable temperature in the summer and the lowest comfortable temperature in the winter. The smaller the difference between outside and inside, the more you will save. You can also save as much as 10% a year on heating and cooling costs by simply turning your thermostat back 7°-10°F for 8 hours a day when you are not at home from its normal setting. If you have a programmable thermostat, watch this video for instructions on how to program your thermostat to automatically save energy when you leave for work or school during the day to save up to $180 annually.
For Renters
For Renters
Learn how to be more energy efficient in your apartment
Introduction
When it comes to energy efficiency, many recommendations focus on structural changes to a building, such as insulation, window upgrades, and air sealing, among others. But while renters are generally unable to make these changes on their own, there are plenty of smart choices renters can take to reduce energy costs and improve comfort.
What Can I Do as a Renter?
Based on the areas where renters use the most energy, the top three things you can do are:
Strategies to Reduce Energy Use
There are many ways to save on energy in your apartment. To help, we have organized them into the following categories based on the biggest areas of energy use in rentals:
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Program your thermostat to 78 in summer and 68 in winter.
Why waste energy on heating and cooling your home when you're not there? Manually change the temperature when you leave home for the day, or watch this video for step-by-step instructions on how to program your thermostat if you have a programmable thermostat. ENERGY STAR recommends these temperatures to save about $180 (estimated for a single family home) on your energy bill every year!
- Don't be too thrifty, and remember to protect your pipes from freezing by never setting your thermostat below 55॰F in the winter, even if you'll be away from home for a long period of time.
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Keep window blinds or thick drapes closed to trap energy in.
Did you know that 30% of a home's heating energy is lost through windows? In winter, drapes can reduce heat loss from a warm room up to 10%!
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Be safe with electric space heaters.
While space heaters can be an efficient option to supplement poor heating in one room, they cause more than 1,7000 residential fires every year. If you have to use one, make sure you buy a vented, electric space heater with an Underwriter's Laboratory (UL) safety label, and keep it away from children and pets when in use.
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Wash your clothes in cold water.
90% of the energy used by washing machines during laundry goes towards heating the water. Washing clothes in cold water will save energy while protecting the colors from fading and clothes from shrinking.
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Take shorter showers and change your showerhead.
By taking shorter showers and showering at a lower temperature, you can reduce the amount of energy needed to heat up the water. Also, efficient showerheads can cut down on the amount of water and energy your shower uses while experiencing the same level of comfort. Tenants should discuss with their landlord prior to changing the showerhead.
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Unplug your TV, computer, and phone chargers when not in use.
Did you know that leaving a computer on all day can waste about $75 per year? Additionally, devices that are turned off but plugged-in still draw power, referred to as vampire power, which has been shown to be responsible for up to 10% of residential power usage. Make sure to unplug phone chargers, TVs, and other appliances when not in use.
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You can make this task easier by learning how to use smart power strips, which will switch off power to all unused devices at once on that strip. For example, when you turn off your TV, the smart strip will also switch off power to video game consoles.
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Schedule a free home energy assessment.
DTE offers free home energy assessments if you rent a single-family home, duplex, or condominium (and not a multi-unit or apartment building). After the assessment, you could receive free LED light bulbs, a programmable thermostat, an energy efficient showerhead, and/or other small retrofits to help you save energy.
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Switch to LEDs.
Do you know what kind of lightbulbs are in your home? LEDs, especially Energy Star rated products, use at least 75% less energy than incandescent lighting. Plus, they last up to 25 times longer, so you'll have to replace them much less frequently!
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Only do full loads of dishes or laundry.
Full loads ensure that you are not wasting water, and air drying your clothes and laundry or drying on the lowest heat setting reduces the amount of energy used by your appliances. As a bonus, air drying and low heat settings can also protect your clothes from wearing out.
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Use a portable induction cooktop.
If you have a gas stove, consider a portable induction cooktop. These efficient cooktops can plug in to any outlet, giving you a non-gas alternative for cooking that uses less energy and improves your indoor air quality.
For more tips on saving energy, check out the Department of Energy's Energy Saver Guide.
What if you Don't Control the Heat?
If your landlord controls your thermostat, make sure they know what a comfortable temperature feels like to you. If it's too hot in the wintertime, don't let opening your windows to let cold air in (and wasted energy out!) be your first move.
Try these actions instead:
Apartment Hunting Tips
When searching for an apartment, consider asking these questions to get a good sense of how energy efficient an apartment is and roughly how much you can expect to spend on utility bills:
Additionally, be aware of your rights as a renter:
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Rental units are inspected to ensure tenant safety every 2.5-3.5 years. You can check to make sure an apartment has passed inspection (look for a CoC or Certificate of Compliance) before you sign a lease using these platforms: STREAM and searching by address
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You have a right to a warm home as a renter in Ann Arbor:
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Section 8.528 of Chapter 105 (Housing Code) requires basic weatherization of rental units in Ann Arbor
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If you notice any large holes or cracks around your windows or doors where cold air is coming through, this section of the housing code requires your landlord to seal these gaps or cracks in the windows and doors.
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Residence Halls
If you live in an on-campus residence hall, while some of the same tips apply, there are some strategies that might not be applicable. Even if you might not be directly paying for your energy, it is on all of us as we work to equitably achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Consider these tips to help:
While the first step should be to only bring what you truly need, for what you do need to bring, make sure they are ENERGY STAR rated to ensure they are the as efficient as possible.
Blinds and curtains add insulation to your windows, meaning when you close them it will keep your room cooler in the summer or warmer at night in the winter. Conversely, keep them open during sunny winter days to help heat the room. Lastly, when possible, use the natural day light instead of relying on other lighting.
While you might not control your overhead lighting, use LEDs if you have a desk lamp or other lighting. LEDs use less energy and last longer than traditional lighting options.
Not only is leaving your laptop on all the time bad for the laptop itself, it also uses a lot of energy, generally resulting in a student's biggest energy source. A good rule of thumb is to set your computer to sleep if you will not be using it for 20 minutes or more and to turn if off if you will be away for two or more hours.
Unplug devices that are not in use
Make sure to unplug phone chargers, TVs, and other appliances when not in use. You can make this task easier by learning how to use smart power strips, which will switch off power to all unused devices at once on that strip. For example, when you turn off your TV, the smart strip will also switch off power to video game consoles.
For more tips you can use in your room, check out Shrink Your Dorm Print.
Additional OSI Resources
Contact Info
Joe Lange
Senior Energy Analyst, Office of Sustainability and Innovations
Email Joe