Every landlord wants their rental property to be as efficient as possible. From maintenance routines to energy efficiency, cutting costs and reducing your effort as a landlord can help make a more profitable—and stress-free—investment. 

Making changes toward better energy efficiency for your rental property doesn’t have to be expensive or overwhelming. Simple changes can often help you save money on your energy bill every month and have a friendlier impact on the planet.

Benefits of Conserving Energy in Your Income Property

Lowering your energy bills isn’t just beneficial for you as a landlord. It can also help you market your property to tenants who care just as much about energy efficiency as you do.

Not to mention making your rental property more energy-efficient can help keep tenants more comfortable year-round. Having energy-efficient upgrades can also help you increase your property value.

So how can you help increase the efficiency of your rental property to reduce energy costs, keep tenants happy, and support a profitable investment?

Seal Gaps Where Air Can Escape

Even if you have energy-efficient doors and windows, over time, the materials will respond to changes in temperature throughout the seasons. The natural expansion and contraction of materials can cause gaps in window and door frames over time where comfortable indoor air can get out and hot or cold air from outside can get in.

If it’s not time to replace your windows and doors just yet, seal any gaps around them. A simple caulking job can do the trick, or you can consult with a professional to ensure no additional repairs or insulation is needed. While you’re at it, check for any gaps around your AC unit or HVAC ducts, which can cause air to escape and reduce your property’s energy efficiency.

Install a Programmable Thermostat

Having a programmable thermostat can help tenants set schedules for when the temperature is more comfortable at the home. There’s usually no need for the system to keep a very warm or cold temperature when renters are away on vacation or at work.

If your income property doesn’t have a programmable thermostat yet, consider making the investment to install one to help reduce energy bills. Or, you can upgrade to a smart thermostat, which gives tenants the ability to adjust the temperature from anywhere with their smartphone.

Plant More Greenery

Landscaping your rental property is a great way to market your unit and attract tenants, but did you know that planting more greenery outside your unit can also help its energy efficiency?

Consider working with a professional landscaper to identify areas where the sun hits the home the most. Planting trees or bushes in these areas can help prevent the sun from heating up the property in the summer. Large shrubs and greenery can also help prevent wind from affecting the home’s efficiency and even act as insulators to help keep the indoors more comfortable.

Check Exhaust Fans and Ceiling Fans

Exhaust fans can compromise energy efficiency more than you think. If you don’t yet have covers on these fans, installing them can help reduce the amount of outside air that gets in when the fan isn’t in use.

You can also ensure that any ceiling fans in your property are working as intended. If your income property doesn’t have ceiling fans, consider installing some. Using a fan can help reduce the energy needed to cool down rooms.

Upgrade Your Lighting

If your rental property has incandescent or fluorescent lights, consider upgrading to LEDs. LED lights are more of an initial investment, but they last much longer than fluorescent and incandescent bulbs, which can help reduce the amount of maintenance that adds up from changing lightbulbs.

LED lights are also more energy-efficient than incandescent and fluorescent lights. Just be sure the LEDs you choose aren’t too bright. Choose bulbs that have a softer, whiter glow rather than a bluish light.

What Energy Upgrades Have You Made to Your Investment Property?

Have you made any of the above changes to your income property, or are you planning to make any changes to improve your energy efficiency? Making small but important modifications can impact your tenant satisfaction as well as your long-term profitability.

If you have an income property in the nation’s capital, contact FAS Management to learn more about our property management services. Contact us at (202) 337-5080.