With rising electricity, oil, and gas costs, rental apartment charges are also experiencing the effects of inflation. But how can you save energy in order to reduce your accommodation rental charges in Geneva or elsewhere in Switzerland?
As a tenant, you must pay the rental charges. And while you may not have much impact on the energy savings to be made in common areas, such as the lift, you can still better control your energy consumption by equipping yourself with household appliances that are energy efficient. Choosing refrigerators, ovens, or dishwashers that have a good energy-efficiency rating is the first step to reducing the costs of a rental apartment.
To significantly reduce your rental charges, it is also advisable to improve your apartment’s insulation. Tenants are not permitted to change the joinery or carry out thermal insulation from the outside, but can sometimes cut cold bridges, with silicone for example. This can mean that you use the heating less during the winter and cooling appliances less during the summer months. Result: energy savings which can significantly lower your rental apartment's utility bills.
Water is not an energy source per se, but it’s use still impacts the budget reserved for rental charges. Also, if you have a house or apartment equipped with an individual water meter, it is recommended to better manage your water consumption. Turning off the water when taking a shower, avoiding baths, installing pressure reducers on the taps, activating the dishwasher's eco mode... There are many solutions for limiting your rental apartment costs while at the same time doing your bit to save water in times of drought. Note that if you have a communal water meter, this remains a civic gesture.
The tenant can hardly buy an ecological heat pump, solar panels, or a thermodynamic water heater; these require considerable investments in order to be profitable over several years. However, there are energy savings to be made on the renewable energy side. Does your accommodation in Geneva have a terrace? Use solar lights to lower your rental charges. For substantial energy savings, ask the owner. They may be inclined to carry out energy renovation works. If not, you might find a more energy-efficient property on SherlockHomes.
The ultimate tip to lower your rental apartment costs: adopt eco-friendly habits on a daily basis. A small gesture for the environment may seem somewhat insignificant, but several small gestures repeated on a daily basis will allow you to save energy and track down the unnecessary expenses of your rental charges: avoid taking the lift, unplug unused appliances, choose a fan over air conditioning, cover the pans on the hob… There are many small gestures you can adopt to make a difference.
This article cannot be considered exhaustive and does not engage the responsibility of its author.
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