Encouraging greener-living in your rental property

People are more aware of the impact they are having on the environment these days, and as a property owner, honing in on this new awareness could potentially attract a new wave of tenants.

With energy prices soaring, people are looking for ways to save money on this necessary commodity. Giving your property the capacity for tenants to save money on power bills is something that is likely to be particularly appealing to tenants.

You don’t necessarily have to spend a fortune to make your property a little greener, so before you run out to get solar panels installed, remember small changes can make a big difference:

• Replacing old halogen lights to LED can reduce energy usage significantly. LED lights use 75% less power than halogen lights and last 13% longer.
• Windows in homes can be responsible for up to 25% of energy consumption, particularly in older homes. Installing block-out blinds is a relatively inexpensive and easy way to reduce the amount of loss by increasing insulation.
• When it comes time to replace appliances, look for the energy and water rating.

The outcome of marketing your property as energy-efficient may be that many an environmentally and/or financially-savvy renter is drawn to it. Discuss with your property manager about making these environmentally-conscious changes.

After all, what tenant wouldn’t enjoy living in a home that can save them money on their energy bill, and help the planet!