Steps You Can Take to Help Lower Costs
There are many steps you can take while renting a home that will help your keep you costs down, while making no permanent changes to the home itself.  Here are a few of these ideas:

Control the Thermostat!!!!
One of the most important things you can do while renting a home or apartment is to USE THE THERMOSTAT WISELY!  The way you control the thermostat typically relates directly to the types of bills that you get.  For maximum savings, set the temperature setting at 68 degrees Fahrenheit during the winter and 78 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer.  You can expect 3 - 5% increases in your costs for each degree above 68 during the winter and each degree below 78 during the summer.  If you want to run the thermostat on 72 degrees during the summer time then expect 18 -30% increase in your air conditioning bill.  If you have a heat pump take a look at the heat pump information for tips on operating the thermostat.  Improper use of a thermostat during the winter can triple your electric bills.

Control Infiltration
What is infiltration?  Infiltration is air leakage into and out of the home.  If you have heating or cooling system running, don't leave windows and doors open.  Make sure that windows are fully shut when they are not in use.  Several windows that have small air leaks can equate to one fully opened window.  For leaky windows, you can purchase removable caulk (rope caulk) at a local hardware store that is reusable and can be removed when you leave the rental property.  You can insert the rope caulk into the cracks around the window sashes to block unwanted air infiltration.

Control Hot Water Usage
If you have an electric water heater, use your hot water wisely.  Don't take excessively long hot showers, let water run longer than needed on the hot side when when running a faucet, or use hot water while washing clothes if not necessary.  Ask your landlord/apartment complex to set the water heater thermostat to a 125 degree Fahrenheit setting to help lower your costs.

Turn off the Lights!
Turn off lights when leaving an area for a extended period of time.  Also consider compact fluorescent bulbs in fixtures that you use often.  Avoid halogen torchieres (stand alone light fixtures with the open globe facing the ceiling).  Halogen lights of this nature can be a fire hazard and can use .300 to .600 kWh and easily add $10 - $15 to an electric bill.

Avoid Excess Application Usage!
Turn off computers, stereo equipment, and TV's when leaving an area for an extended period of time.  Always wash and dry full load of clothes.  Keep your refrigerator full (even if it is just plastic water jugs).  A full refrigerator will run less than an empty one.  See the What Uses Watts chart for costs associated with other applications.