7 Inexpensive Ways to Make Your Rental Home Green

And here they are:

1. Insulate your water heater.
   1. Wrap it in an insulating blanket and save 10% annually on your water-heating bill.
2. Service the furnace.
   1. Have your furnace checked every 2 years. Even tightening the pipes can save 10% on your heating bills.
3. Set the washer to cold.
   1. Put a clause in the rental contract that states the renter will only use cold water to wash their clothes. Take $10 per month off their rent if they comply.
4. Stop drafts.
   1. Put weather strips around all of the doors and windows in the house. Within the first year, you could save up to $30.
5. Turn down the heat.
   1. The easiest way to keep the tenants heat down is to have them pay for all heat, water and electricity You would be surprised how more efficient people are when they have to pay for it.
6. Dim the lights.
   1. When giving someone an option to dim lights, 80% of the them do so. Dimming cuts electricity usage by the same percentage they lower the light.
7. Lower your water temperature.
   1. Set your water heater to around 120 degrees. There is no need to have the water be scolding hot.

   View more tips at Kiplinger’s Personal Finance Magazine.