Being a renter doesn't mean you have to accept a high energy bill as a fact of life. While you may not be able to replace the water heater or add attic insulation, there's a surprising amount you can do to reduce your energy use — and most of it costs nothing at all.
Whether you're looking to save money, shrink your environmental footprint, or both, these practical habits are easy to adopt and add up to real savings over time. Here's what we recommend.
Heat & Cooling: The Biggest Factor
Heating and cooling typically account for the largest share of a home's energy use — often 40 to 50 percent of your total bill. The good news is that thermostat habits are entirely in your control.
- In winter, aim for 68°F when you're home and active, and drop to 65°F or lower when you're asleep or away. Each degree you lower the thermostat can reduce heating costs by 1 to 3 percent.
- In summer, set your AC to 78°F when you're home and higher when you're out. Avoid cranking it down to 65°F to cool the space faster — it doesn't work that way and just runs the unit longer.
- Use ceiling fans to your advantage. In summer, fans should spin counterclockwise (creating a downdraft that feels cooling). In winter, flip the direction switch to clockwise to push warm air down from the ceiling. Just remember: fans cool people, not rooms — turn them off when you leave.
- Seal gaps under doors and around windows with draft stoppers or rolled towels. Even a small gap can let significant heat or cold air in.
"The thermostat is the single most powerful energy tool in your apartment. Use it intentionally, and the savings show up immediately."
Phantom Loads: The Hidden Energy Drain
Here's something that surprises many people: electronics and appliances draw power even when they're turned off. This is called a "phantom load" or standby power, and it can account for 5 to 10 percent of your electricity bill without you ever noticing.
The biggest culprits include TV entertainment systems, gaming consoles, phone and laptop chargers, coffee makers, and desktop computers. They sit there, plugged in, quietly sipping electricity around the clock.
- Use smart power strips to automatically cut power to devices when they're not in use.
- Unplug chargers when you're not actively charging something.
- Put your TV and gaming setup on a single power strip that you can flip off before bed.
- Look for the Energy Star label when replacing appliances — they're designed to minimize standby consumption.
Lighting
If you still have incandescent bulbs anywhere in your home, swapping them for LEDs is one of the most cost-effective things you can do. LEDs use about 75 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer. The investment pays for itself quickly.
Beyond the bulbs themselves, building simple habits makes a big difference:
- Turn lights off every time you leave a room — it only takes a second.
- Open blinds and curtains during the day to use natural light instead of electric.
- Use task lighting (a desk lamp or reading light) instead of overhead lighting when you only need light in one spot.
Only run your dishwasher and washing machine with full loads. A half-empty dishwasher uses just as much water and energy as a full one.
About 90% of the energy used by your washing machine goes to heating water. Washing with cold water works just as well for most laundry.
A 10-minute shower uses about 25 gallons of hot water. Trimming even 2 minutes off saves water and the energy used to heat it.
A faucet dripping once per second wastes over 3,000 gallons per year. Submit a maintenance request and we'll fix it right away.
Kitchen & Appliances
Your kitchen holds more energy-saving opportunities than you might think:
- Refrigerator coils: Dust buildup on the coils at the back or bottom of your fridge makes it work harder. A quick vacuum once or twice a year helps it run more efficiently.
- Oven myths: Don't peek into the oven — every time you open the door, the temperature drops by 25°F or more, making it work harder to recover. Use the interior light to check on food.
- Microwave vs. oven: For reheating or small portions, the microwave uses significantly less energy than a full-size oven.
- Let food cool before putting it in the refrigerator — putting hot food in makes the appliance work harder to maintain its temperature.
Water Heating
Water heating is the second largest energy expense in most homes after space conditioning. A few easy habits help here:
- Take shorter showers — even shaving two or three minutes off your daily routine adds up to meaningful savings over a month.
- Fix dripping hot water faucets immediately — the constant flow of hot water wastes both water and the energy used to heat it. Submit a maintenance request and we'll handle it.
- Wash laundry in cold water — modern detergents clean just as effectively in cold water for everyday loads.
If you notice a running toilet, dripping faucet, or drafty window, please don't wait to report it. These issues not only waste energy — they can indicate a larger problem that's easier and less expensive to fix when caught early. Submit a request anytime through the Resident Portal.
Small Changes, Real Results
None of the habits on this list require major effort or spending. The most effective ones — thermostat discipline, turning off lights, unplugging chargers, running full loads — are simply matters of routine. Once they become automatic, you stop thinking about them and just enjoy the lower bills.
We hope these tips help you feel more comfortable and in control of your home. As always, if you have questions or notice anything that needs attention in your unit, we're here and happy to help.