<img src="http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-b9iqXwljufs2-.gif" style="display: none" border="0" height="1" width="1" alt="Quantcast"/></a>

20 Ways for Renters to Stay Cool and Save Money this Summer

By Chris Baskind in Living

Doggie and fan

The problem with most articles about summer energy saving is that they’re geared for homeowners. But more people are renting than ever before.

So you’re a renter? That power bill insert suggesting you upgrade attic insulation is probably more frustrating than useful. The same applies for most tips related to improving property. If your appliances are furnished, it’s likely you don’t even have the option to replace them with more efficient models.

What’s a renter to do?

Summertime energy prices can turn a trip to the mailbox into a stressful experience. But while major home improvement projects may be off the table for renters, it’s still possible to take some of the sting out of summer power bills. The key is conservation.

If you can’t change your living space, change your behavior. Reducing consumption is the greenest of green. We’ve rounded-up twenty ways to stay cool and save money through the warmer months. While you may already be doing some of these, you should find a few that will fit your energy saving arsenal.

Take action and save!

Set your air conditioner to 78 or higher. An obvious pointer, but also one of the most ignored. Running your air conditioner at colder temperatures won’t cool down a room any faster than a more moderate setting, but it will force your system to work harder. Worse yet, it’s easy to forget to turn it back up. Stick with the warmest setting you can tolerate, and move on to other stay-cool ideas.

Wear cool, loose clothing — even indoors. Shorts, absorbent fabrics, and loose-fitting clothes all work outdoors. They’ll work inside, too. It’s your space: dress for comfort. The cooler your clothing, the less you’ll need air conditioning.

Indulge your taste for spicy food. There’s a reason Indian and Latin food is hot: It makes you sweat! If you have proper air circulation, sweating is an effective way to cool down. That sheen on your arms, face, and legs is pretty much odorless, by the way. Crank up the heat in your food, and you’ll feel cooler. It may also provide other health benefits, such as improved circulation.

Use box fans to improve air circulation and set existing ceiling fans properly. This goes hand in hand with not being afraid of a little sweat. Fans use a fraction of the energy required by air conditioning. Just as in the case of wind chill outdoors, moving air will substantially lower the perceived temperature. During the summer, a ceiling fan should (in most cases) be running counterclockwise when viewed from below. You want the setting with maximum downdraft. Flip it next winter to bring warm air down from the ceiling. Just keep in mind that fans are for people, not rooms. There’s no point running them when nobody is around.

Take cold showers. If you live in an area experiencing water shortages, skip this one. Otherwise, a quick three-minute cold shower is a fantastic way to cool down. Going longer than three minutes won’t make you feel much cooler, so skip the soap and just enjoy the relief. For regular showers, avoid using hot water during the summer. In most temperate locations, tap water is plenty warm for bathing by July. The cooler you run your shower, the less heat and steam you’ll need to remove from your living space. Use the exhaust fan if it’s vented outdoors.

Drink plenty of water. You can’t sweat if you’re dehydrated. While some traditions, such as Ayurveda, discourage consumption of cold liquids, they’ll temporarily cool your body core. Alcohol and caffeinated drinks tend to dehydrate, so choose wisely.

Draw drapes and blinds on windows exposed to direct sunlight. Window coverings are one of the few home additions tolerated by most landlords. Curtains, blinds, and windowshades can all go with you at the end of your lease. In warm weather, you’ll want to be sure the space at the top of curtain between the rod and the wall is covered, or hot air will rise through the gap. It’s possible to buy curtains and shades with thermal ratings, so shop around or make your own. Window coverings have the added benefit of keeping heat from radiating outward during the winter.

Cook outdoors. Grilling is a classic summer pastime. Best of all, it keeps heat outside. Of course, you want to minimize the environmental impact of outdoor cooking. Digging back in the Lighter Footstep archives, you’ll find a section called “The Green Barbeque” at the top of this article.

Use the microwave. The lowly microwave is your kitchen’s most efficient plug-in appliance. In addition to saving money year-round, microwave ovens are a good bet for summer cooking. Here’s why: Microwaves direct most of their energy into the food, rather than the kitchen. That means you’ll stay more comfortable and burn less energy removing cooking heat from your home.

Outdoor thermometer during a heatwaveEat more smaller meals through the summer months. The bigger the meal, the harder your body must work to digest it. Try splitting mealtimes across the day, opting for more and smaller meals when it’s warmest. This will keep your body from having to stoke its metabolic afterburners. It’s also a great time to experiment with cold foods — perhaps even raw cuisine. Less heat in the kitchen; less heat in your tummy.

Spend more time outdoors or away from home. Why not soak up someone else’s air conditioning? A little window shopping never hurt anyone, and it’s likely there are several ice cold destinations within walking distance or a short bicycle ride from your home. While eating out is a luxury for a lot of people these days, blowing a couple hours with a frosty drink and a book someplace cool isn’t a bad way to spend a sweltering summer afternoon.

Try a cool pillow. It’s tough to sleep when you feel like you’re in a sauna, and the alternative is running a fan or air conditioner all night. In addition to dressing out your bed with seasonally appropriate sheets and bedcovers, consider a “cool pillow.” They’re marketed under names such as Chillow (Lighter Footstep has no current relationship with this company). Cool pillows are designed to draw heat away from your head, where about 30 percent of body warmth is dispersed. They require no power or special preparation. Here’s a low-tech idea for beneath the sheets: Fill a hot water bottle or two with icy water. It’s like a refrigerator for your bed.

Shut down unnecessary electronic devices. Here’s another year-round energy saver. During the summer, however, it’s even more important to pull the plug on home electronics. Anything with a transformer creates heat. Shut down unused desktop computers (they have cooling fans for a reason); televisions; entertainment systems — pretty much everything with a plug.

Wash your clothes at night and line dry them in the morning. Some power companies offer off-peak rates to their customers. Take advantage of these. In any event, even a properly vented clothes dryer radiates heat. Restrict its use to the coolest part of the day. Wherever possible, line dry clothes. It worked for our parents’ generation, and it will work for ours. This should be no problem if you’re renting a house. A simple line between two sturdy supports will do, and umbrella-style clothes lines are an affordable investment. Line drying is more of a challenge for apartment dwellers. You may be able to get away with a small line on a porch — check your lease terms. It’s also possible to dry indoors, and there are many retractable lines and racks made just for that purpose. Indoor drying may be the best choice if your area is dusty, or if you happen to be particularly susceptible to outdoor allergens.

Shut down your furnace pilot light. It’s small thing, but there’s no point running a gas furnace pilot light through the summer months. Locate the gas shutoff valve. There are safety issues here, so if you have any question about how to properly extinguish a pilot light, consult your building supervisor, utility company, or heating and cooling professional.

Close doors to unused rooms and closets. You winter clothes do not require air conditioning, so get into the habit of keeping closets and cabinets closed. Shut unoccupied rooms and their cooling vents. If you’re using window units, close the door  in the air conditioned room whenever practical.

Replace or clean your air conditioning filter. Dirty filters dramatically reduce air conditioner efficiency. Check your filter once a week, and replace as often as necessary. Filters are generally throwaway items, but some may be reusable of thoroughly vacuumed. Clean window unit filters once a week. Some window air conditioners have a warning light to indicate when air flow is restricted.

Close your fireplace damper. If you’re fortunate enough to have a fireplace, close the flu during warm weather months. Chimneys are another void you don’t need to cool, so keep fireplace doors shut or construct an airtight screen to close the hearth when not in use.

Replace standard bulbs with low-energy equivalents wherever practical. The heating effects of incandescent bulbs are generally overstated, since most lights are mounted close to the ceiling. But every degree matters when you’re trying to keep power bills under control, and the money saving benefits of year-round CFL or LED light use are obvious. Concerned about the mercury in CFLs? These dangers are usually overstated, also. But proper CFL handling and disposal is a responsibility. See Five Ways to Dispose of Old CFLs. Better yet, take the CFL Recycling Challenge.

Talk to your landlord. Property owners usually take action when it’s in their financial interest. So do your homework and see what might make sense in terms of energy saving improvements. There may be local, state, or federal incentives for things such as improving insulation values or weatherization. Landlords of utilities-provided rentals will be particularly receptive to to projects which save them money over the long term. In any case, you may be able to obtain permission — or even rent credit — for making small improvements on your own. You’ll only know if you ask.

Can you think of more?

While a start, this list is by no means inclusive. Got a tip to add to the list? Show off your green cred in our Comments section, or visit out Contact page and drop us a line. We’ll share your ideas with all the other Lighter Footstep renters!

Originally posted 14. Jul, 2009 | Tags: , , , , ,

60 Comments 70 Tweets

50 Responses to “20 Ways for Renters to Stay Cool and Save Money this Summer”

  1. Ethan 15 July 2009 at 11:32 am #

    Great tips, but I did have to point one thing out - not all renters can cook outdoors. Check with your fire marshal first - in some places it is illegal to grill on your balcony or rooftop.

    Reply   More from author
  2. Jane 15 July 2009 at 1:42 pm #

    Thermal blackout curtains work fabulously. Keep the light out for those late mornings and work like insulation. Great for renters.

    Reply
  3. Elizabeth 15 July 2009 at 2:11 pm #

    Here are some things that work for me.

    I keep frozen grapes on hand for snacking. They’re low calorie, they don’t drip like popsicles, and the green ones don’t stain.

    I like to put a bucket of ice cubes in front of my fan - just be careful not to mix water and electricity. It may be only psychological, but I tell myself it works like a heat sink. If you don’t like to run a fan, you could keep cool by putting your feet into the bucket!

    Also, a freezer full of ice cubes is easier to keep cool than one with lots of empty space.

    Reply   More from author
  4. Business101 17 July 2009 at 5:05 pm #

    I could use some of those right about now!

    Reply   More from author
  5. Sivv 18 July 2009 at 12:37 am #

    Yeah, as a kid who grew up with air conditioning set on 67 and never had to deal with much else, spending 80% of last summer at my renter friends while we attended summer classes in 95 degree heat and a billion percent humidity taught me to hang out at taco bell (always freezing), and steal a cup of ice when I left. (;

    Reply
  6. kev 18 July 2009 at 1:23 pm #

    Plastic outlet plugs are a good way to prevent air-conditioning (and money) from escaping the numerous holes in your walls. Likewise, a piece of cardboard cut to fit snugly in your fireplace opening will help a lot (even if your damper is closed). A toaster oven is good for small meals, instead of heating a large oven (which also radiates more heat in the kitchen).

    btw, has anyone seen an article titled
    “20 Ways for Renters to Stay Cool and Save Money this Summer”..? I’m surprised no one has mentioned it.

    Reply
  7. chooochooo 17 July 2009 at 1:35 pm #

    great tips!

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  8. jschnell 17 July 2009 at 1:37 pm #

    I could use some of those right about now!

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  9. BillyB 17 July 2009 at 2:09 pm #

    Just in time. It’s 104 today. Sheesh.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  10. SearchRank 17 July 2009 at 3:32 pm #

    Mmm, with all the things that have "broken" or needed repair in my home this year, I’ve often times wished I was a renter. ;)

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  11. chrisbaskind 17 July 2009 at 3:39 pm #

    Yeah, it can be a drag. But renters get ignored in the shuffle (still). Lots more folks renting these days.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  12. eric191 17 July 2009 at 4:26 pm #

    This info couldn’t have come soon enough!! Thank you for the tips!

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  13. themastersb 17 July 2009 at 11:24 pm #

    Only like 15 degrees (metric) right now, but earlier it was 32 degrees for me

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  14. Pinkertinkle 18 July 2009 at 12:02 am #

    sitting naked with a giant fan 2 feet away works wonders

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  15. captaingary 18 July 2009 at 12:02 am #

    Puerto Rican air conditioning:Wet your hair and stick your head out the car window, preferably while blasting reggaeton.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  16. fragMasterFlash 18 July 2009 at 12:04 am #

    Popsicles. Lots and lots of cheap ass super tastey cool you off popsicle goodness.I call dibs on the cherry flavored ones.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  17. SystemicThought 18 July 2009 at 12:06 am #

    Stating that a microwave is the most efficient plug-in appliance in the kitchen is a pretty bold statement… how do you even determine that a microwave is more efficient than a blender or a rice cooker? My electric tea kettle gets water hot for much less energy than a microwave… (I have one of those readers you can plug in between electric devices and the wall to read how much they use)

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  18. onClipEvent 18 July 2009 at 12:12 am #

    get a cool wet towel and wrap around your neck/shoulder area, where the major blood vessel (Carotid Artery) travels….sounds stupidly simple, but it works.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  19. damien6669 18 July 2009 at 12:14 am #

    Best tip for staying cool during the day: At night get as much cold air in the place that you can. First thing in the morning, close your windows and black out the windows as best you can. It isn’t the coldest solution, but it is free and works almost as good as AC.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  20. sb66 18 July 2009 at 12:34 am #

    Do americans usually pay electricity when they rent? In Canada its usually included. Although I use an extra electric heater a lot more than my air conditioner :)

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  21. davidjunit 18 July 2009 at 12:53 am #

    Replace the old-style mercury thermostat.My rental had an old round analog thermostat and it would run at odd times and was inaccurate. I bought a $50-$60 digital thermostat from the hardware store, one that was able to be programmed with a schedule so I could set it to work less when I was away, and I’m glad I did. It’s so much more efficient than the one that was here and they’re simple to install and remove if you want to take it with you when you move (just put the old one back).

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  22. pappy97 18 July 2009 at 2:06 am #

    For most people, we pay electricity in addition to rent. I know some places, especially low income apartments, that have this utility included in rent but it’s few and far between.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  23. gnimsh 18 July 2009 at 2:40 am #

    Owning a home is for suckers! Mortgages suck!

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  24. tomarocco 18 July 2009 at 11:17 am #

    Wear Crocs!

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  25. jaymzdean 18 July 2009 at 3:09 pm #

    A spritz bottle containing ice-water and a $10 electric fan and you’re good.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author
  26. Spacejack 18 July 2009 at 7:53 pm #

    Don’t skimp on the sno cones neither.

    This comment was originally posted on Digg

    Reply   More from author

Leave a Reply

You needn't be registered to comment, but replies may be held for moderation.

Want to see your avatar on Lighter Footstep? Sign up at Gravatar. Your gravatar will work here and at thousands of other sites.

Additional comments powered by BackType