How to be a green landlord

"Going green" is just about taking steps to help out the environment. Landlords have an opportunity to make a positive impact on the environment by addressing green initiatives. In the past, going green was optional, but with Millennial and Gen Z renters became even more eco-conscious, this can often be a deciding factor on what property to rent. Landlords that do not become environmentally friendly are missing out on opportunities to attract and retain good tenants.

There is a lot more for property owners who decide to go green, besides attracting more would-be renters: the reduction of their own and tenant’s carbon footprint; the possibility to push rent prices higher, comparing to the traditional houses with no green solutions; and the savings on utilities (sustainable rental units will save money on energy and water). There are many ways for a rental home to go green, some more expensive than others. But being environmentally conscious as a landlord doesn’t have to be a complicated process. In this article, we share eight simple ideas on how you can become a green landlord.

Switching to LED light bulbs in your properties is the quickest energy-saving tool. LED lights are up to 80% more efficient than other types of lightbulbs, last 20 times longer, and are usually brighter. As regular lightbulbs produce more heat than light, LED bulbs are more efficient in converting light without heating up. There are additional steps you can take toward energy efficiency. If you want to look for other opportunities, you may consider an energy auditor.

Smart thermostats can help save money and energy since they can be completely customised to users' needs and remotely controlled. A smart thermostat will enable control of cooling and heating from a smartphone or tablet. Tenants can adjust the heating and air conditioning and set timers themselves. It can also be programmed to turn on to heat the building or cool it a few hours before tenants come home. This way, you avoid your tenants having the heat or A/C on during the day to ensure returning to a comfortable home environment.

Solar panels are an excellent source of energy to consider for your rentals since it provides clean, emissions-free, renewable energy. Solar panels can be expensive, but they can save you a lot of money if you are willing to wait out the investment.

Insulating your property is a great way to save money and energy. Heat and cold easily escape your property through poorly insulated windows and doors. So it’s crucial to invest in good quality insulation. In addition, it is important to seal windows where heat may be coming in or out, adding weather stripping to drafty windows.

Recycling is one of the easiest and cheapest ways to go green. It may be out of reach for you as a landlord because you can’t control what your tenants use and throw away, but it is a demand you can make. Provide different recycling bins: biodegradable, non-biodegradable, recyclable, and food waste; identify which materials go where with easy to follow directions and state where the nearest recycling container is.

Additionally to recycling, you can get a compost bin and ask your tenants to compost. Composting is the natural process of recycling organic matter, such as food waste, into a valuable fertiliser that you can later use on your plants. Most people may not be familiar with this practice, so make sure you hand out step by step instructions, even if possible, record a small video to explain how to do it. However, environmentally-conscious people will undoubtedly be impressed with your initiative and may recommend your property in the future.

Conserving water is another way to support a greener planet. Also, like how you can save money on energy bills, you can save on your monthly water bills. Consider replacing your old showerhead with a low flow showerhead. Old-style showerheads can use up to 15-20 litres per minute, and even some more modern ones will drain 10-12 litres per minute, but a well-manufactured showerhead from a trusted brand will reduce water consumption by up to 60%. These days, more efficient and affordable showerheads will save water while still delivering good water pressure.

Business activities often leave a very noticeable carbon footprint. One of the easiest ways a landlord can go green is reducing their carbon footprint from business activities. By installing project management software, you can make your business 100% virtual with the ability to collect rent payments online, store important documents and send emails instead of printing invoices. Also, paying utility bills online instead of through paper statements reduces paper use each month. Paying your bills online and having your tenant pay you in the same way, saves paper, gasoline, and time.