Making an Eco-Friendly Rental on a Budget

In today’s climate, more people are becoming interested in sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, and eco-friendly rentals are no exception! As a landlord, staying current can help attract more tenants, lower your utility costs, and just overall boost your property value. Modest fixes like water conserving plumbing, smart and Energy Star-rated appliances, LEDS, and insulated windows and doors, and sustainable landscaping can make a big difference. Curious? Let’s jump right in.

Key Takeaways

• Water conservation is essential in areas with a hot and dry climate, like San Antonio.
• Upgrading to Energy Star-rated appliances and adding smart features like thermostats and plugs helps lower energy use while attracting eco-conscious tenants.
• Sustainable and eco-friendly rental efforts aim to lower energy consumption, minimize required maintenance and upkeep, and improve tenant experience.

5 Ways to Make Your Rental More Eco-Friendly

As San Antonio’s top property services management, we can tell you that taking a few steps towards a eco-friendly rental can go a long way. We recommend the following:

Conserving Water

In areas like Texas, where you can really feel the heat during the summer months, water usage can spike significantly. During these times, rental properties are also at risk of excessive and wasteful usage. So, what can you do?

As a landlord, one easy way to set up your rental property to conserve water is to install low-flow plumbing fixtures, like faucets, showerheads, and toilets. These are specifically designed to have a lower-flow rate, effectively saving and conserving water with every use. Preventive property maintenance is also essential. It gives you the chance to spot leaks and address any issues before they turn into a bigger (and more wasteful) problem.

Switching to LEDs

Speaking of utilities, electricity is another factor that landlords need to consider. Minimizing your property’s usage is one way to be more cost-efficient and environmentally friendly. One simple way to do so is to switch to LED lights, since these use significantly less energy than standard bulbs.

Aside from energy efficiency, LED lights also have longer lifespans, requiring less maintenance and fewer replacements over time. Want to enhance your property’s curb appeal with outdoor lights? Use solar panel LEDs that will charge up during the day and use that power at night.

Insulating Windows and Doors

For many older buildings and properties, insulation is a common problem. Imagine having to deal with energy loss just because your rental has poorly sealed windows and doors. Or you have to deal with cold and hot spots throughout an apartment because your HVAC system simply can’t efficiently maintain temperatures. Problems like these not only spike up your utility bills but also affect your tenant’s satisfaction.

To effectively deal with this, it’s essential that you improve your property’s insulation, particularly around windows and doors. We recommend you install weatherstripping, caulking, and even window film to reduce air leakage and heat transfer. Doing this can help prevent your tenants from bumping the AC to max whenever the Texas heat hits.

Energy-Efficient Appliances and Smart Technologies

If you’re rental is holding on to decade-old appliances because they still work, that may not be the greatest idea in terms of cost-efficiency. Older appliances use a lot of power and require more maintenance. But why should you invest in newer energy-efficient and smart tech appliances specifically?

Well, simply because appliances contribute significantly to how much energy a rental property consumes. As we mentioned, older appliances use a lot of energy, which can drive up electricity bills. So, replacing and upgrading key appliances (refrigerator, washer, dryer, air conditioning, dishwashers, etc.) can help bring your usage down. If you’re on the lookout for new appliances, always check for their Energy Star certification and rating to gauge their power efficiency.

Now, if you want to take steps further, adding smart technology can attract more tenants and tailor energy usage according to each individual user. Even small installations – a smart thermostat, plugs, power strips, and even lighting – can bit by bit improve your property’s energy consumption and enhance your tenant’s overall experience.

Sustainable Landscaping

Although often overlooked, landscaping actually plays a huge role in designing a sustainable and eco-friendly rental. More than curb appeal, there are different ways of landscaping that utilize smarter and more efficient methods to reduce costs, maintain sustainability, and boost eco-friendliness.

Taking into account San Antonio’s hot and dry climate, a sustainable landscaping method (known as xeriscaping) recognizes this and uses plants that are native or known to thrive in such environments. Another simple technique is to mulch around trees, shrubs, and garden beds to enhance the soil’s capacity to retain moisture. Sustainable landscaping also involves other outdoor elements, such as the pathways, lighting, and drainage systems. Such practices not only help maintain an attractive and appealing landscape but also help minimize water and power usage, as well as reduce required maintenance and upkeep.

Take Your Rental Property Business to the Next Level With BMG

Even if you’re on a tight budget, creating a sustainable and eco-friendly rental is not impossible. Even small upgrades (like switching to LED lights and sealing windows and doors) can make huge differences to your property’s energy efficiency and power usage. As a landlord, what you need to remember is that having an eco-friendly rental is a commitment, and you need to be able to continue the effort in order to truly feel it’s impact.

Luckily, you don’t have to go through this all alone. Working with a rental property management company, like Bay Property Management Group, can make implementing this so much easier. We’re committed to helping you achieve your goals and providing the support that you need – from managing vendor relationships to scheduling periodic property inspections to coordinating maintenance, and more. Let us help you reach your dreams! Contact us today.