Being Greener When you Rent
Renting can be frustrating when you want to go green.
There are a lot of things you just don't have control over. You
generally don't own the appliances, can't install solar panels, etc. It
gets annoying sometimes.
I deal with this a lot as I do still rent. We're fortunate enough to be
renting a house rather than an apartment, but there are still a lot of
limitations.
Start By Saving Energy
Even when you can't replace that cranky old refrigerator, you can still
save energy. Start with the light bulbs. Switch out to compact
fluorescent lights, or CFLs. In many areas you can find them at a
discount through your local electric company. I've seen them under $2.50
for a 3-pack in my area due to discounts run through my power company.
Take advantage.
There is one catch to CFLs if you have a lot of closed fixtures. The
standard spiral bulbs don't work as well in closed fixtures. According
to energystar.gov, you are best off using a reflector CFL in these
areas. Similarly, if you have dimmer switches, you will want to be sure
that your bulbs will work with these.
Also try to find out about recycling these, as they have a small amount
of mercury and should not be just thrown in the trash. In my area Kohl's
recycles them.
You should also think more about when you are using electricity. Power
down the computer if you won't be using it for a time. Unplug appliances
that don't need to be plugged in all the time. Unplug the cell phone
charger and other chargers.
Power strips can also be a big help. Use them to shut off all power to
multiple items at once. This takes care of the "phantom load" that many
electrical items have where they use electricity even when off. Often
this is to run a clock or other nonessential. If you don't need it to
have electricity 24/7, find a way to make shutting it off all the way
easy.
Watch for Green Apartments
You may not be able to move into one right now, but in some areas green
apartments are turning up. Just a few miles from where I live, there's a
new apartment complex that is powered by solar power. Believe me, I
would have loved to get on that list, but by the time I heard of it, the
list was full.
I expect green apartments to be a trend. It's a good value for the
landlords and very appealing to many renters.
Encourage Green Habits
Perhaps one of the biggest challenges is that you may not have access to
many of the basic things homeowners take for granted. For example,
recycling may or may not be available in some apartment communities,
even if single family homes are required to recycle.
If your complex doesn't recycle, talk to the rental agents about it. If
they learn there is a demand for it, they're more likely to sign up for
recycle bins to be put out by the trash bins.
Being green in a rental situation is more difficult, but it is not
impossible. These steps can help you to get onto the right path.
About the author
Stephanie Foster blogs at http://www.greensahm.com/ on ways stay at home parents can be more environmentally friendly. Get more green parenting advice at her site