You don’t have to be a homeowner to make your living space greener. Take Care of Texas has compiled a list of easy, renter-friendly ways to live more sustainably, without making costly upgrades to someone else’s property.
Change or clean your AC filter monthly
This may not be a chore that’s on your monthly to-do list—or one that’s even on your radar—but regularly cleaning your filter can save a lot of energy (and money). Filters can get clogged up fast, making your AC unit work harder to cool down your home. So, make sure to clean or replace your filter every month to keep your unit working efficiently.
Adjust your thermostat
Heating and cooling are two of the biggest consumers of energy in your home. Turning your thermostat up in the summertime and down in the winter can save you hundreds of dollars on your energy bill. To keep cool in the summer, turn on the ceiling fans. In the winter, reverse your ceiling fans to rotate counterclockwise to force the warm air down and set the fan to a low speed.
Start a small indoor compost bin
You don’t need to have a lot of land or even a backyard to have a compost bin, you just need a plastic bin, food scraps, and time! Composting is a great way to keep food out of the landfill and create nutrient-rich fertilizer for your plants. The easiest method of composting for small indoor spaces is to make a worm-composting bin. Check out this article from the EPA to learn how to build your bin out of household materials.
