5 small changes you can make to increase the eco-friendliness of your rental accommodation
More travelers are renting vacation homes that are sustainable, with nearly 70% of travelers saying they would prefer to book an eco-friendly accommodation in 2018 (source: Booking.com). As a property owner, you can make your vacation rental more attractive to this growing group of responsible travelers by taking small steps to make your homes more energy-efficient — and save on energy bills in the process!
5 Small changes to make your home more energy-efficient
- Change your light bulbs: Switch to long-lasting, Energy Star certified, LED bulbs or compact fluorescent lights. Although these lightbulbs can cost more initially, they last up to 15 times longer than traditional light bulbs and save approximately $55 in electricity costs over their lifetime.
- Added bonus: Energy-efficient light bulbs produce 70–90% less heat, making them safer to operate for forgetful guests who may leave the lights on.
- Install a smart thermostat: A smart thermostat automatically adjusts heating and cooling temperature settings in your home for optimal energy-efficient performance. You’re able to set your preferences to save power, such as by lowering the temperature at night or when guests are typically away during the day. As a vacation rental owner, you’ll also have the benefit of being able to control the temperature remotely through your smartphone when the rental is vacant to cut energy waste.
- Added bonus: You can save up to 2% on your heating bill for every degree rolled back in temperature.
- Seal air leaks: Small gaps around doors and windows can leak warm air and increase the heating bill. By making sure there are no leaks, you can help make your properties more comfortable and improve energy-efficiency. This can be done by applying weather stripping and caulking around the doors and windows.
- Added bonus: Fixing leaks can provide up to 10% savings on annual energy bills.
- Fix leaky faucets: Although the drips from the sink might be small, they add up! According to the environmental protection agency, “small” leaks can waste up to three gallons of water a day! Fixing leaks will conserve water and reduce waste.
- Added bonus: Fixing all leaks in your home can save you up to 10% of your current water bill.
- Unplug appliances: Even in “standby”, many electronic devices use power 24 hours a day. While most appliances only use a watt or two a day, according to AoL, “some electronics — like computers and TVs — consume a lot more power, even when they’re in standby mode”. Cut down on this passive power drain by unplugging when your rental is empty.
- Added bonus: The U.S Department of Energy says that 5% -10% can be saved on energy bills by unplugging devices that are plugged in 24 hours a day.
Let visitors know about eco-friendly changes
Make sure to let potential visitors know about the measures you’ve taken to make your home more sustainable. Do so by displaying your eco-score badge, which shows your sustainability ranking, in your property images and by listing applicable sustainable practices, features and amenities in your property description.
By making small efforts to cut your rental’s consumption, you’ll not only save on energy bills and reduce your carbon footprint, you’ll also market your property to a growing group of responsible travelers.
About One Degree
One Degree is on a mission to positively impact the tourism industry by helping vacation rentals be both more sustainable and increase their bookings.
The more eco-friendly the vacation rental, the better it is for the entire travel industry. Get your eco-score now.
