Living green isn’t just for homeowners
by Julie Herman and Gina Bugiada

So often we hear about incentives and programs that support efforts by homeowners to be more energy efficient, but we hear so little about what renters can do. With roughly one-third of Boulder County’s greenhouse gas emissions coming from residential properties and more than half of the city of Boulder’s dwelling units (57 percent) occupied by renters, there is a huge opportunity to reduce our local energy consumption by informing and supporting renters and landlords about how to make low-cost upgrades to their homes.

Existing low-income weatherization programs that support renters, as well as homeowners, are just the tip of the iceberg. The good news is that the city of Boulder is currently exploring ways to incorporate rental units into their greenhouse gas reduction efforts, including both mandatory (code changes) and incentive programs.

In the meantime, there are still many small things renters can do to save energy and money. Incorporating just a few changes each week can lead to a big impact on the environment — and on a renter’s wallet.

Here is an abbreviated list of easy changes renters can make, prepared by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ENERGY STAR. Visit its website for more details on each of these tips (www.energystar.gov).

Replace incandescent bulbs with CFLs. The newest CFL technology has produced more pleasant light temperatures. For those of you who were reluctant to make the switch a few years ago, now is the time to give the switch a try. Making the switch to ENERGY STAR-qualified lights can save more than $65 a year.

Always turn off your lights when leaving a room. Turning off just one 60-watt incandescent bulb that would otherwise burn eight hours a day can save about $15 per year! Remember that incandescent bulbs make heat, not light!

Install a programmable thermostat. A programmable thermostat can automatically adjust your home’s temperature settings when you’re away or sleeping. When used properly, you can save up to $150 a year.

Purchase electronics equipment that has earned the ENERGY STAR. The EPA rates those devices that help save energy when off, while maintaining features like clock displays, channel settings and remote control functions.

Use a power strip. Having a central “turn off” point makes killing the power when you are done using equipment a one-switch deal. For home office equipment, the stand-by or “phantom” power load can range from a few watts to as much as 20 or 40 watts for each piece of equipment.

Take a shower and use a low-flow showerhead. With a new 2.5 gallon-per-minute (low-flow) showerhead, a 10-minute shower will use about 25 gallons of water, saving five gallons of water over a typical bath. The showerhead will save up to $145 a year on electricity compared to a bath or an old-fashioned showerhead.

Make sure all air registers are clear of furniture so that air can circulate freely.

Place heat-resistant reflectors between radiators and walls. In the winter, this will help heat the room instead of the wall.

Keep drapes open during daylight hours. During cold weather, take advantage of the sun’s warmth during the day, and remember to close the drapes at night to keep that warmth in.

Save water by scraping dishes instead of rinsing them before loading in the dishwasher.

Wash full loads. To make the most efficient use of your dishwasher’s energy and water consumption, run the dishwasher only when enough dirty dishes have accumulated for a full load.

Air-dry your dishes by opening the door after the wash cycle. According to the California Energy Commission, air drying dishwasher dishes can save 15 to 50 percent of the energy used by the dishwashing cycle.

Wash full laundry loads. This can save you more than 3,400 gallons of water each year.

Wash your laundry with cold water. Hot water heating accounts for about 90 percent of the energy your machine uses to wash clothes.

Switching to cold water can save the average household more than $40 annually with an electric water heater and more than $30 annually with a gas water heater.

Don’t over-dry your clothes. Many dryers come with energy-saving moisture or humidity sensors that shut off the heat when the clothes are dry. If you don’t have this feature, try to match the cycle length to the size and weight of the load. A dryer operating an extra 15 minutes per load can cost up to $34 every year.

Clean the lint trap before every load. Dryers work by moving heated air through wet clothes, evaporating and then venting water vapor outside. Cleaning the lint trap before each and every load allows the air to move freely. This step can save up to $34 each year.

For more information on greening your residence and/or to find a local green-building professional to assist you, go to www.bgbg.org.

Julie Herman is the executive director of Boulder Green Building Guild. Gina Bugiada, LEED-AP, is a Boulder Green Building Guild volunteer.