What ways can tenants of rental properties reduce their carbon footprint?

Question

Insulation, water tanks & solar panels help reduce your carbon footprint but they are no help to renters.

Answer 1

By turning down the temp on the hot water cylinder. Getting energy efficant light bulbs. Putting a wrap on the hot water cylinder. Composting, and having a worm farm.

Answer 2

Solar panels are more hype than help.

It costs appx $0.60 a kilowatt-hr to make electricity with a solar panel.
Life of the panel and cost of the panel. That panel is NOT free.
It also takes energy to make that panel... and when its reached its end of useful life... it has to be disposed of...

Modern structures will have modern, well insulated walls and well insulated water heaters... regardless of if its a rental or a privately owned home.

As the appliances wear out, they get replaced. Rental units, the average appliance lasts half as long as in a private home (renters beat the hell out of the appliances) So the rental is more likely to have modern, efficient appliances.

NEXT!

Answer 3

i have replaced my carbon footprint albeit in methods i might want to by no ability have predicted. 3 years in the past i replaced into eco-friendly concious yet nevertheless left a extraordinarily huge print with my SUV and wasteful ability practice. I washed and dried clothing after in ordinary words one placed on, left the A/C on when I wasn't abode and that i drove my SUV everywhere, even to the nook marketplace. This all replaced even as my frustration with US politics and predatory comercialism reached a level the position I fled the country. Now I stay in, of all places, China. Now I dont rigidity a automobile, I holiday an electric powered motorcycle. I dont wash my clothing until eventually they want them and that i line dry them (no dryers in so China), My new spouse has pushed abode the want for water/ability conservation, no longer out of any eco-friendly time table, yet really from a existence of being too negative to have adequate money such luxuries. the very incontrovertible truth that we are able to have adequate money that's inappropriate, that's basically no longer necessary. i have realized the lesson that intense ability intake is a cultural disese. convinced, China is the most polluted position I easily have ever lived. The negative air high quality sometime is so undesirable my eyes burn and the poisonous waters have me swearing off fish and averting untreated ingesting water. do not blame the hardship-loose individual inspite of the indisputable fact that, the area again is a societal one. Deng Xiao Peng advised the thousands that to be wealthy is superb and then he bumped off any limitations to unscrupulous methods of achieveing stated glory. China is increasing on the fumes and exhusts from 10000 factories all dumping unhindered. perchance the question being requested should be directed at a larger entitiy. Say governments and mega businesses. the hardship-loose guy is doing what he can.

Answer 4

You can Use Compact Fluorescent light bulbs, low flow shower heads, insulation blankets for the water heater,turning down the temp.of the hot water, lower the thermostat in the winter to between 68-70 degrees and raise it in the summer to between 72-78,insulate water pipes, use ceiling fans to circulate and maintain temperatures, turn off any lights that are not in use, and get energy star appliances(more efficient) like washers and dryers,stoves and refrigerators. also consider carpooling or if you can afford it get an electric/hybrid car or walk/cycle anywhere you can avoid driving.
here is a web site that can help with an energy evalution
http://www.energydepot.com/energyright/index.asp

Answer 5

Everyone should look for methods to reduce the use of electricity for a start.. There is a great site here http://www.ozenergy.net check out the How to Help page it has some great info on reducing your footprint.

Answer 6

If you encourage your landlord, it would prevent your rent from going up. But you can use less air con/heating, stop making as much trash, encourage small children to pick up so the maintainence doesnt use blowers.

You could also carpool with neighbors for local errands and grocery store trips

Answer 7

Get to know your neighbors. When you go shopping, share the car ride to the market.