Summer isn’t the only time power bills spike. Between holiday lights and furnace expenses, the dead of winter can be just as expensive. As a renter, however, you don’t want to break the bank making energy-efficient updates to an apartment you don’t own. The good news is you don’t have to be stuck with an unbearably high bill. Reduce your energy usage and save a little money by following these eight smart and inexpensive strategies.
1. Lower your water heater temperature
There’s nothing nicer in winter than a hot, steamy bath, but heating up that water can account for nearly 17% of your home’s energy use. Water heaters are often set to 140 degrees Fahrenheit—a standard manufacturer setting—which is much hotter than needed. Change your water heater thermostat to 120 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can enjoy your shower and save money, too.2. Turn down the heat
It’s easy to leave the thermostat running constantly to keep your apartment cozy, but each degree means more money spent on energy. To lower that bill, try using the heater only in occupied rooms by closing the vents in all other rooms when you’re at home. And when you go to sleep or leave the house for work, set the thermostat to a lower temperature. Turning your heater down seven to ten degrees Fahrenheit for just eight hours per day can save you 10% on heating annually.
3. Bundle up
Rather than turn up the heat when you get cold, use sweaters, blankets, and floor coverings to avoid feeling the effects of a cool home. Keep quilts or throws in every room so you always have one on hand, and remember to use them instead of your thermostat. If you have wood or tile flooring, an area rug can do wonders for holding heat. And on especially chilly nights, pull out a set of flannel sheets, a heavy comforter, and thick pajamas.4. Reduce your energy use during peak hours
You may be able to save money by switching up when you run energy-intensive appliances. Many power companies offer Time of Use plans—packages with different price levels based on when electricity is used. If you’re on one of those plans, it’s often more expensive to run a vacuum or do a load of laundry during peak hours of energy usage. Wait until off-peak hours to run your electric space heater, and you could see substantial savings.5. Use ceiling fans
When you’re cold, a fan may not be the first solution you think of. However, switching your fan blades’ rotation to clockwise can actually boost the airflow of heat and warm up the room. This trick works because heat rises, and when the blades rotate clockwise, the warm air near the ceiling gets pushed down throughout the room. Most ceiling fans have a switch on the motor housing that makes it easy to change the direction of the blades’ movement. You’ll know it’s correctly set when you don’t feel any wind blowing on you.Visit ForRent for the three remaining tips. Comment below if you have additional tips you would like to share.