Residents

Renters - Take Action!

Saving energy is easy! Some simple changes to your daily routine can make a big difference. Work your way through the easy changes, and then tackle the bigger ones. Don’t worry: help is available from our trusted partners and resources!

Quick links: view easy-to-understand guides for the following topics:

Do you own your home? Click here to see how you can take action and save energy.

Watch for this icon– it indicates that there may be rebates and incentives available to help you complete that task.

  • Turning off lights when not in use
  • Replacing old lightbulbs with CFLs and LEDs
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  • Letting the sun shine in during winter, and close blinds or windows coverings during summer
  • Replacing or cleaning the filter on your furnace quarterly
  • Putting on a sweater or sweatshirt instead of turning up the heat in the winter
  • Turning the temperature setting down (colder) when leaving the house in winter
  • Setting your thermostat to 68° F or lower in winter
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  • Opening windows at night and close during the day for natural cooling
  • Turning off A/C or turning temperature up (warmer) when leaving the house in summer
  • Using a fan instead of turning on/up the A/C
  • Set your A/C higher
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  • Setting your refrigerator and freezer to the “warmer” temps
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  • Running your dishwasher only when full
  • Washing clothes in cold water
  • Cleaning the lint filter after each dryer load.
  • Turning off your dishwasher’s heated dry cycle
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  • Turning off computers when not in use
  • Turning off your computer monitor instead of using a screen saver
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  • Lowering hot water heater temperature to 120° F
  • Asking your landlord for information about your unit’s energy usage (if you don’t pay for utilities)
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  • Asking your landlord to install & activate a programmable thermostat
  • Asking your landlord to get an air conditioning tune up in the spring
  • Asking your landlord to replace or clean the filter on your furnace quarterly
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  • Purchasing thermal curtains/window shades
  • Getting an air conditioning tune up in the spring
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  • Cleaning your refrigerator coils
  • Purchasing a fridge/freezer thermometer and set your fridge to 38° F or higher and the freezer to 5° F or higher
  • Asking your landlord to replace an old refrigerator
  • Recycling a second refrigerator or freezer
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  • Air drying clothes on a line
  • Asking your landlord to replace an old clothes washer or dishwasher
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  • Enabling the power management features on your computers
  • Replacing an older (CRT) computer, monitor or television with an Energy Star qualified model
  • Using a power strip to turn off TV, stereos & appliances when you’re not using them
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  • Asking your landlord for permission to install weather-stripping on exterior door and windows
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  • Checking out an energy meter from the library to measure energy use of appliances and electronics
  • Taking the stairs instead of the elevator (apartment dwellers)
  • Cooking in a microwave or a toaster oven instead of using the oven
  • Reduce your shower length by 2 minutes
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  • Installing a tubular skylight for natural day-lighting
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  • Installing a solar space heating system
  • Installing a ground source heat pump
  • Installing an energy star or high efficiency furnace
  • Installing a high efficiency furnace motor
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  • Installing a whole house fan for summer cooling
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  • Buying an energy star refrigerator
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  • Purchasing your own efficient appliances, washer
  • Purchasing your own efficient appliances, dryer
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  • Replacing an older (CRT) computer monitor or television with an LED or LCD model
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  • Purchasing and installing thermal curtains/blinds
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  • Installing PV panels
  • Scheduling a low-cost home energy audit and give the results to your landlord with a 'wish list'
  • Talking to friends and neighbors about energy efficiency
  • Purchasing a shower timer and cutting your shower time in half
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