Keeping costs low is critical to maximising the revenue from your vacation rental. This means getting smarter about your energy usage.
Let’s look at a few simple ways you can bring down the utility bills and bank the savings.
Choose the right appliances
Look out for the energy star rating. Efficient appliances may seem expensive but bring down energy costs in the long run. If the property in question has many outdated appliances and you’re overwhelmed by the idea of replacing them all at once, you can always replace them one at a time. As appliances break down and need major repairs or replacement, simply choose energy-efficient models to replace them with.
Also become prudent with the appliances you buy for your vacation rental. Will a deep freezer really be useful for short term stays?
Smart managing of electricity usage between rentals
You don’t need all appliances running at full when your property is not rented. For instance, all appliances can be switched off and unplugged when not in use. Similarly your water heating could be set to lower temperature, enough to prevent pipes from freezing but not too hot to consume up energy unnecessarily.
Regular home maintenance and audit
Do a regular check of your vacation rental, looking for damage, leaks and drafts that could be cheaper to close but cost more in terms of energy if not sealed. Check on our insulation – is it up to spec? Have your appliances such as heating or ventilation systems been serviced? Changing air filters is an easy task that could save you a lot in energy cost or replacing an HVAC system broken due to neglect.
Figure out which appliances are the biggest consumers of energy in your rental and put in place a plan to manage these.
Get smarter about the appliances you buy
Smart technology can be extremely helpful for increasing vacation rental revenue. A smart thermostat, for example, can be set to save energy during times when renters are away.
Consider controlling appliances via smart applications or devices such as Google Home/Alexa. Smart lights linked to time of day, smart meters to understand the energy usage of your property, solar panels, tankless water heaters, energy-saving bulbs and refrigeration that is set up to defrost after peak energy hours is a technology that you should not take lightly.
Encourage your guests to become smarter
Leave reminders for your guests to switch off lights and appliances when not in use. Request for laundry to be done in cold water where possible. Make the clothesline accessible to encourage guests to use it over the dryer.
Final word
There are many different habits and practices you can employ to cut down on your utility bill at our vacation rental. Remember, you don’t have to do it all in one go. Take things one step at a time and find small ways to reduce your dependency on energy, since even small acts add up in the long run.