For several months now, our electricity, gas and diesel bills have been rising steadily, and it looks like it’s going to stay that way for a while. Even vacation rental owners are being affected by rising energy costs, which is hitting many hard after the difficulties of the last two pandemic years. Although energy prices continue to rise, you can save a few bucks month after month with our tips.
5 ways to save energy in your vacation home
You can’t constantly monitor your guests’ energy consumption during their stay at your vacation rental. What you can do, however, is to inform them in your digital guest guide about ways to save water and electricity. Plus, there are a few tricks you can use to save money in the long run:
1. Replace conventional light bulbs with LED lighting
Energy-saving bulbs can save up to 75% energy compared to traditional incandescent bulbs. There are also alternatives on the market, such as LED light bulbs and dimmable systems that can further reduce your energy costs.
2. Natural light and the right material
If your vacation home is in an area where the sun rarely shines, don’t block it out, too. Remove curtains and blinds in rooms where they are not absolutely necessary, and let natural light into the kitchen, living room, etc. Take a lesson from Northern European countries that have large windows to make the most of daylight. If your vacation home is in the south and the sun shines most of the days a year, you should keep the rooms as dark as possible. This way they will stay cool and you can reduce the cost of air conditioning. If you don’t want to use a humidifier, you can put a bucket of water in the corner and the room will stay cool longer. Your choice of flooring can also help keep rooms from heating up in the summer: limestone, marble and terracotta tiles will keep you cool, while wood and floating planks are better for colder climates.
3. Solar panels
Take advantage of the sun and install solar panels on your roof or roof deck to heat water. Your electric bill will go down significantly.
4. Defrost the freezer regularly
Remember to defrost the freezer or refrigerator in your vacation home from time to time. Icy freezers can add up to 20% to your energy bill.
5. Unplug devices when not in use
We tend to leave household appliances plugged in even when we’re not using them. But even when they’re not on, they’re still using electricity. So ask your guests to unplug appliances like toasters, desktop computers, music players, and chargers that aren’t being used. It’s not only good for you as a host, but it’s also good for the environment! These 5 tips are just the first step to permanently lowering your electric bill.
-> Discover more ideas to save energy in seasonal rentals.
How about turning your property into a smart home?
As electricity gets more expensive and issues like sustainability become more important in our society, more and more hosts are choosing to turn their homes into smart homes. The Internet of Things and energy-saving products and appliances help keep electricity and water consumption low. In addition to energy efficiency, a smart home offers many other benefits:
Increased security
Your vacation home is empty for several weeks a year and you live far away? A vacation home with home automation has mechanisms that warn you about intruders, break-ins and spontaneous accidents, and you don’t have to worry. From your smartphone you can lock doors, activate video surveillance cameras or alert the police within minutes.
More convenience
The biggest advantage of a smart home is that it’s easy to manage. You can access all the devices and systems in your home from your smartphone and control every detail, from the temperature of the refrigerator to the music that should be played when entering the house.
Greater benefits
A smart home is also an attraction for your guests, which you should consider when promoting your accommodation. For many, staying in a smart home is something new they have never experienced before, and they are willing to pay a little more for it.
