With winter upon us, many may be looking for ways to stay warm and comfortable at home, without running up the energy bill. With longer nights and more time indoors, it’s a good time to incorporate energy-efficient practices that will help keep your energy use down.

Even as a renter there are a lot of steps you can take to help make your home more energy efficient, without making structural changes to the property that could require landlord approval:

1. Cover your windows. About 30 percent of a home's heat is lost through windows. To combat these drafts and air leaks, consider investing in window treatments, such as roller and roman shades or curtains and draperies. Let the sun shine in on south-facing windows during the day to let in the natural warmth. Close drapes at night to reduce heat loss by up to 10 percent.
2. Turn down your thermostat. Adjust the temperature as low as comfort allows in the winter and higher in the summer to help you save up to 10 percent a year on annual heating and cooling expenses. If you spend six to eight hours away from home, this is an effective way to reduce energy-related expenses.

If your home uses a heat pump for heating and cooling, make sure to consider your settings. When the temperature outside is mild, a heat pump’s auto mode can sometimes result in the system switching back and forth between heating and cooling. To prevent this, set the heat pump to cooling mode during the spring and summer, and heating mode during the fall and winter.

3. Be more efficient with your water usage. Washing in cold water can make your clothes last longer while also saving energy since about 90 percent of the energy needed to operate a washing machine is used to heat the water.

4. Change your light bulbs to LEDs. ENERGY STAR® certified LED light bulbs use up to 90 percent less energy and last up to 25 times longer than incandescent lighting, so if you’re planning to stay at your rental unit for more than a year, this is an easy upgrade. If you just want to switch out some, but not all, light bulbs, consider placing them in the fixtures you use the most, such as table and floor lamps.

5. Make sure electronics are set to save power. Given the number of people working remotely, computers and other electronics are being used at home more often. Are you using them efficiently? At this time of year, you may also have some interior lights set up inside. Do they need to be on and active all day long?

Vampire or phantom loads—the energy used from your smart devices and cords when plugged into outlets while not in use—can account for up to $200 per year in energy costs. “Smart” power strips come in several varieties: some are automatic or equipped with a motion sensor, and some are equipped with a programmable timer to shut on or off at designated times. By plugging your electronics into one of these strips, you can control when your devices and appliances are using energy

We hope that these energy-saving suggestions will help you create a cozy and well-lit home without straining your budget. For more ways to save, consult our energy-saving tips and tools.

The NHSaves® Utility Partners offer incentives and rebates for energy-saving products that can lower your energy costs while helping your landlord boost property value. For more information about this program and available rebates and incentives, please visit our website.