You can’t replace the furnace or add attic insulation in a rental, but you still control a big share of your energy bill. The best energy-saving tips for renters are cheap, removable and landlord-friendly: smarter thermostat habits, LED bulbs, draft blockers, cold-water laundry and cutting “phantom” loads. Together they can trim a typical bill by a meaningful amount without losing your security deposit.

Quick answer: the best renter-friendly savings

Fix	Upfront cost	Typical yearly saving*	Landlord OK needed?
Thermostat setback (7–10°F for 8 hours)	$0	Up to ~10% of heating & cooling	No
Swap 10 bulbs to LED	$15–$30	About $100	No
Wash laundry in cold water	$0	$20–$60	No
Draft stoppers + removable weatherstripping	$15–$50	$20–$80	Usually no
Smart power strip for TV/computer	$20–$40	$10–$40	No
Window insulation film (winter)	$15–$40	$15–$50	Usually no
Low-flow showerhead (keep the old one)	$15–$40	$30–$90 (electric water heater)	Usually no

*Estimates using roughly 18¢/kWh. Savings vary by climate, home and utility rates.

What electricity costs right now

According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the average US residential electricity price is forecast at about 18.2 cents per kWh in 2026, up from about 17.3 cents in 2025. Rates differ a lot by state, so check the price per kWh on your own bill — it’s usually listed in the charges section. The math below uses $0.18/kWh.

Heating and cooling: where renters save the most

Heating and cooling are usually the biggest slice of a home energy bill, and even in a rental you normally control the thermostat.

Use setbacks, not constant adjustments

The U.S. Department of Energy says you can save up to 10% a year on heating and cooling by turning the thermostat back 7–10°F for about 8 hours a day — while you sleep or are at work. Good starting points:

• Winter: around 68°F (20°C) when you’re home and awake, lower when asleep or out.
• Summer: around 78°F when you’re home, higher when you’re away.

If your unit has an old manual thermostat, ask the landlord whether you can install a programmable or smart one and swap the original back when you move out.

Don’t heat the whole apartment with a space heater

A space heater only makes sense if you’re heating one small room and turning the main heat down. The math adds up fast:

• 1,500 W heater × 5 hours × $0.18/kWh = $1.35 per day
• × 30 days = about $40 a month

That can be cheaper than running electric baseboards in every room, but more expensive than a heat pump. Our breakdown of space heater cost per hour runs the numbers for different heaters.

Use curtains and blinds like a thermostat

• Winter: open south-facing curtains on sunny days, close all curtains at night.
• Summer: close blinds on sun-facing windows during the day.

Thermal-lined curtains on your own tension rods are a removable upgrade you can take with you.

Ask the landlord to change the HVAC filter

A clogged filter makes a furnace or AC work harder. Many leases make filter changes the landlord’s job, but plenty of tenants are allowed to do it themselves. Ask — it’s a low-cost request most landlords are happy to approve.

Stop drafts without drilling a hole

Air leaks around doors and windows make your heating and cooling work overtime. Renters have plenty of no-damage options:

• Door draft stoppers (the fabric “snake” style) for exterior doors.
• Removable rope caulk or peel-and-stick foam weatherstripping around windows.
• Foam gaskets behind outlet covers on exterior walls (a screwdriver job; turn off power first and reinstall the covers carefully).
• Window insulation film kits that shrink tight with a hair dryer and peel off in spring.

Our weatherstripping guide explains which materials work on which gaps and which ones come off cleanly.

Lighting: the easiest win

If your rental came with old incandescent or halogen bulbs, replace them with LEDs and keep the old bulbs in a box for move-out day.

• 60 W incandescent → 9 W LED = 51 W saved
• 51 W × 3 hours a day × 365 days = 55.8 kWh
• 55.8 kWh × $0.18 = about $10 per bulb per year

Swap 10 frequently used bulbs and you save roughly $100 a year for an outlay of a few dollars per bulb. Take the LEDs with you when you move.

Laundry and hot water

Wash in cold

ENERGY STAR notes that about 90% of the energy a washer uses goes to heating water. Modern detergents work well in cold water for most loads. If you do four warm loads a week, switching to cold can save tens of dollars a year, depending on whether your water heater is gas or electric.

Dry smarter

• Clean the lint filter every load.
• Run full (not overstuffed) loads.
• Use a drying rack for some items, especially lightweight clothes and towels.

Shorter showers and a better showerhead

Federal rules cap new showerheads at 2.5 gallons per minute; WaterSense-labeled models use 2.0 gpm or less. Swapping one in takes a wrench and a few minutes — just store the original and reinstall it when you leave. With an electric water heater, the hot water saved can be worth roughly $30–$90 a year for a household that showers daily.

If you have access to your water heater and the lease allows it, check the setting. DOE suggests 120°F for most homes, and some heaters are set higher at the factory. If you don’t have access, ask the landlord.

Cut phantom loads

Electronics that are “off” but plugged in still draw standby power. The DOE estimates standby power accounts for roughly 5–10% of residential energy use.

• Put the TV, game console and sound bar on an advanced (smart) power strip.
• Unplug chargers and devices you rarely use.
• Turn off a desktop computer at night instead of leaving it on.

Focus on the devices with the biggest standby draw, such as cable boxes, game consoles and older desktop computers.

Kitchen habits that add up

• Fridge at 37–40°F, freezer at 0°F. Setting them colder than that wastes electricity.
• Use small appliances. A microwave, air fryer or toaster oven usually uses less energy than heating a full oven for a small meal.
• Run the dishwasher full and skip heated dry if it has that option.
• Match the pot to the burner and use lids.

Money moves that don’t involve your apartment

Some of the biggest savings for renters come from the utility account itself, which is usually in your name:

• Check your rate plan. If your utility offers a time-of-use rate, shifting laundry and dishwasher use to off-peak hours can lower costs — but only if your habits fit the schedule.
• Ask about assistance programs. LIHEAP helps eligible renters as well as homeowners pay heating and cooling bills, and the federal Weatherization Assistance Program can serve renters with landlord permission. Funding, income limits and wait times vary by state, so contact your local agency.
• Look into community solar. In states that offer it, renters can subscribe to a share of a local solar project and get bill credits without installing anything.
• Compare suppliers carefully if you live in a deregulated state, and read the fine print on variable rates.

Note that the federal 25C and 25D home energy tax credits ended for purchases made after December 31, 2025, so don’t count on a federal credit for any equipment you buy now.

Talk to your landlord about bigger fixes

You can’t replace windows or the furnace yourself, but you can make a good case for repairs:

• Report broken window seals, a door that won’t close tightly, or a heater that never shuts off.
• Point out that efficient upgrades make the unit easier to rent and cheaper to maintain.
• Put requests in writing and keep copies.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can renters really lower their electric bill?

Yes. Thermostat habits, lighting, laundry and standby power are all under your control, and those are a large share of most bills. Savings vary by climate, home and rates, but combining several low-cost fixes usually makes a noticeable difference.

Do I need my landlord’s permission for weatherstripping?

Removable products — draft stoppers, rope caulk and shrink-film kits — generally don’t need permission. Check your lease, and ask before anything that uses adhesive on painted surfaces or requires tools.

Is a space heater cheaper than central heat?

Only when you heat one small room and turn the main heat down. Heating several rooms with space heaters at around 18¢/kWh usually costs more than a furnace or heat pump.

What’s the single best thing a renter can do?

For most people it’s thermostat setbacks: they cost nothing and DOE puts the potential saving at up to 10% a year on heating and cooling.

Can I take my energy-saving upgrades with me?

Yes — LEDs, smart power strips, thermal curtains, a showerhead and a smart thermostat can all move with you if you keep the originals and reinstall them.

The bottom line

Renters have more control over energy costs than they think. Start with the free fixes — thermostat setbacks, cold-water laundry and switching off phantom loads — then spend a little on LEDs, draft blockers and a smart power strip. For more ideas that work in any home, see our pillar guide on how to lower your electric bill.

Figures in this guide are estimates based on typical US prices at the time of writing. Savings vary by home, climate and utility rates — check your own bill before making a purchase.

Written by The Daily Economy editorial team with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Read our editorial policy.