Surprise The Landlord
Talk over energy conservation with other tenants in your building. Band together and approach your landlord with ideas on how he can save energy. Suggestthat he replace inefficient systems, such as hot-water heaters that have a low recovery rate. You'll be helping him save money in the face of rising energy costs. Hopefully these savings will be passed along to you, by holding off rent increases.
For apartment dwellers, financial savings from energy conservation practices are likely to go in the first instance to the owner of the building. We suggest that tenant groups — either organized or informal — stress energy conservation with building management, and perhaps explore ways of returning the dollar saving to tenants. However remember that there are many reasons for saving energy which are not related to a personal dollar saving, and it still makes sense to conserve energy even if you do not immediately benefit financially.
November 20, 2008