Whether utility expenses are paid by residents or the Property Management Company we can all do our part this summer to help save energy and resources.  Decreasing our energy consumption is not only good for the planet, but great for our pocketbooks as well. 

By now, we should all be familiar with commonplace energy saving tips such as: turning the thermostat up higher (for example, 78° F instead of the usual 72° F), turning the lights off when leaving the house, washing only full loads of dishes and laundry, and closing the blinds during the day.  However there are other unconventional and less widely known tips that can also help renters and Property Management Companies save money. Here are a few of the best unconventional tips you can share with residents to help conserve energy during the hot summer months.

Use compact fluorescent light bulbs.  According to the US Department of Energy, compact fluorescent light bulbs can save up to 75% off the average energy cost of lighting versus incandescent bulbs. This is a substantial savings considering lighting accounts for 15% of the average American family’s annual energy consumption. 

Mitigate phantom power usage.  Many gadgets, electronics, and appliances use phantom energy when it’s unnecessary.  According to the US Department of Energy – in the average home nearly 75% of all electricity used to power electronics is consumed by products that are switched off.  These energy wasters include DVD players, TVs, stereos, computers, kitchen appliances, and much more.  Most important to acknowledge are chargers for cell phones and computers.  If you leave your chargers plugged in all the time you should know that only 5% of the power drawn by the charger is used to charge the device and the other 95% is wasted.

Put lamps in the corners of rooms.  Compared to putting lamps against flat walls, putting lamps in the corners can help spread more light.  If the walls are light colored, the light will bounce off of the walls and ceiling, helping to maximize the amount of light.

Don’t overcrowd your refrigerator or leave your freezer empty.  Having less in your refrigerator keeps it from having to work so hard to keep everything cool, consuming less energy.  Keeping your freezer full has the opposite effect; it helps the freezer stay colder while expending less energy.

Pay your rent with RentPayment.  Paying rent electronically with RentPayment cuts down on paper consumption, saves gas by limiting  trips to the bank, and provides time and money savings all around.

Arrange furniture intelligently around A/C vents.  By arranging your furniture so it does not block air conditioning vents you will be able to maximize the cool air flow .

Reduce cook times by thawing frozen foods.  Thawing frozen foods  prior to cooking  will cut down cooking times, helping to expend less energy while preparing the meal.

Utilize the toaster oven and microwave.  Cooking with the toaster oven and microwave can help save energy compared to cooking with a conventional stove or oven.

These few unconventional tips along with commonly known energy saving methods will help you and your renters save money and energy this summer.  Spreading awareness throughout your community to staff members and renters alike will benefit all.  For more tips, check out the US Department of Energy’s Energy Saving Guide.

“Going green,” seems to be the current trend for consumers and business owners to claim they are following. Despite the obvious perks for adopting more nature-friendly practices, many have their doubts of whether or not the costs of applying these practices outweigh the benefits. However, by switching to a paperless ePayment system you can dramatically cut down your carbon footprint while also increasing efficiency and convenience for your company.

Javelin Strategy and Research reported that if every American household viewed and paid bills online, solid waste could be reduced in U.S. landfills by more than 800,000 tons a year and save an estimated 18.5 million trees a year. According to The Federal Reserve, over 170 million pounds of greenhouse gases are used on printing checks and bills each year.  Take a moment to think about how each document not only uses the paper it was printed on but also the gas consumed by the mail carriers to deliver it to you and your renters.

Reducing the use of paper provides benefits beyond saving the environment when using a full service ePayment solution to keep track of all your books and payment history.  Without the endless amounts of paper books and bills adding up, you can save thousands of pieces of paper as well as increase your property’s efficiency and accuracy.  Online payment systems increase accuracy by reducing the risk of human error involved with manual entry and recordkeeping.

Offering ePayment services also saves your business money and time. Electronic payment lowers costs for businesses who spend money on postage and check processing. For example, according to RentPayment.com, an eCheck costs approximately $1 to process whereas a paper-check can cost anywhere from $6 to $12 to process. In addition, the processing time for an eCheck is only a few days whereas a paper check can take up to 2 weeks to clear. The American Forest and Paper Association reports that every ton of paper costs an office roughly $1000 and can add 3.3 cubic yards of waste to a landfill.

Paperless billing is catching on as consumers become more aware of the conveniences and environmental benefits of electronic billing and payment. Surveys have shown that users not only like helping the environment, but they also like the timeliness and practicality of ePayment. Renters enjoy the assurance of securing an always on time rent payment every month without having to worry about physically dropping off a check.  Debit and credit cards are also processed by these same services. This is another benefit for the renter and helps ensure they can always make their rent payment. Renters also avoid being charged late fees while the property managers enjoy the guarantee of receiving rent every month with an automated withdrawal from bank accounts.

The Nature Conservancy sites that half of the world’s original forests are gone and each year 36 million more acres of deforestation are added to that list.  In one 24 hour period, one tree can provide oxygen for up to four people and discharge up to 100 gallons of water from the ground into the air. It’s critical that we preserve our trees to maintain our planet’s livelihood.

“Obviously, businesses and consumers won’t ever stop needing paper, but technology is helping make an impact to reduce unnecessary paper usage and waste. Electronic bill payment is a key element in that quest,” said Kevin Sander, director of corporate partnerships at the National Arbor Day Foundation

Finally, there is a way to save your property from superfluous costs and decrease unnecessary stress for you and your renters while also giving Mother Nature a much needed break too. It’s a win-win situation. Let’s all do our best to save the environment while saving our businesses money by switching to ePayment services today.

About Author:
Krista Norsworthy is a recent print journalism graduate from the Walter Cronkite School at Arizona State University and currently working as marketing intern at RentPayment.com in San Francisco.