It doesn’t take years of experience as property managers in East Bay to realize that homes that are more energy efficient will attract more tenants. When a renter gets to save on a regular basis on utility bills, s/he might even be willing to pay a slightly higher amount as rent too. So, investing a little to go green and energy efficient can actually reap long-term rewards for the landlord.
Easy & Affordable Ways to Increase Energy Efficiency of Your Home
While installing solar panels might be one of the best ways to go green and save the planet, for now the cost of installation is prohibitive, especially if you aren’t planning to live in the home yourself. However, there are some simple things that you can do within a budget.
- Insulation: Apart from using caulking and/or weather stripping your doors and windows, you could put in some new or additional insulation on the walls, ceilings and attic. This will prevent air leaks and keep the cool air inside the home. This in turn will reduce the burden on the air conditioning.
- Window Treatments: One of the primary sources of air leaks in and out of the home is through the windows. The first thing to do is replace the window frames if they are made of aluminum, which is a good conductor of heat. Use vinyl frames instead. Double or triple paning the windows is also a good idea. You could even have argon gas filled between the panes, since this is a remarkable insulator. Tinted windows are another way to keep cool, especially in weather conditions seen in East Bay. While the tinting might not make the house look too attractive, it does a good job of protecting the home from heat transfer.
- HVAC/Air Conditioning: Maintenance of the air conditioning system, along with changing the filters regularly, will not only help with more efficient cooling and heating, it will bring down the energy usage. Regular checks also improve the longevity of the machine.
- Revamp the appliances: Appliances that are Energy Star certified are the way to go. The water heater or furnace and the refrigerator contribute the most to energy bills. Getting newer models that are certified as energy efficient could help in a big way. This applies to the washer, dryer and other kitchen appliances as well. Low-flow water fixtures in the bathroom and kitchen can also help significantly in saving water. On-demand water heaters are not only good at saving electricity but are also easy to maintain.
All these changes can be taken care of on your behalf by your property manager in East Bay. Once you advertise an energy efficient home for rent, you will see for yourself that not only do the applications for rental increase but the vacancy periods diminish drastically.
