Many visitors prefer to stay in touristic accomodation instead of a hotel, since they are more comfortable and more economic. As a landlord, renting your home for a few months allows you to earn extra income, and you also avoid having your house being locked up for too long.
However, a very important factor to take into account regarding letting your home is the energy and electricity consumption of the property (and even more now with the new electricity tarrifs!). So, here are the keys to saving energy costs in your holiday rental. Think about all the money you could save which can be used to improve your home!
1. Light
The first thing you should do is sign up for a suitable electricity tariff for your home in order to optimise your energy costs.
To do this, you will have to compare the different electricity companies and find the option that works best for you.
Another tip is that you should take advantage of natural light. Barcelona is a city with sun light almost every day of the year, make the most of it! To get the most out of it, we recommend that you position the furniture in a way that the light reaches every corner. In addition, painting the walls a light colour will make the flat feel brighter and bigger.
Also, we recommend that you change traditional light bulbs for LED lights. By investing in this type of lighting you can reduce your long term costs between 80-90%. In addition, they are more durable than traditional lightbulbs!
2. Electrical Appliances
To manage your rental property well, another key way to reduce energy costs is to have energy-efficient appliances.
Therefore, as soon as possible, replace your old appliances with energy-efficient appliances. Look at the labels that classify these appliances according to their efficiency, ranging from A (the most efficient) to G (the least efficient).
As with LED bulbs, more efficient appliances require a higher investment, but the savings in the long run are well worth the investment, saving up to €500 per year!
In addition, good maintenance of this equipment will extend its useful life, as dirt and poor conditions can impair its operation and lead to higher energy costs.
3. Air Conditioning and Insulation
In the hottest months of the year, guests often use air conditioning, if the acommodation has one. In this case, having this machine running all day can make the electricity bill very expensive. For this reason, the best location for the air conditioning is in a shaded place and we recommend that you have booklets in various languages informing the tenants not to set the air conditioning below 24 degrees, so that it can be used more efficiently.
When winter comes, it is necessary to have good insulation to prevent the cold from entering the home. To solve this, we suggest that you use double-glazed windows, especially if it is an old house, or a draught excluder for the doors. Like what happens in the summer months, if air conditioning is used in winter, it is preferable not to use it above 21 degrees to optimise energy costs. It is also advisable to check once a year, both doors and windows, to make sure that no cracks have appeared.
4. Guest Awareness
People are becoming more and more aware of what poor energy management entails, so there is a growing trend towards more sustainable and environmentally friendly practices, but a reminder never hurts, don’t you think?
As we have seen a good idea is to advise about suitable temperatures for air conditioning. Another action can be to remind tenants about the new electricity bill, so that they make responsible use of all electrical equipment.
The new electricity bill is divided into three bands: peak, flat and off-peak. During peak hours, electricity is more expensive, while during off-peak hours it is cheaper. Remember to adapt the text in several languages so that all your guests can understand it!
5. Use Technology
In addition making good use of energy and carrying out proper maintenance, and turning your rental property into a more technological place will save you costs and time. You can start by using home automation, which will help you to control the light in a smart way and control electricity consumption. At AB Apartment Barcelona we install smart locks, which allows the entry of guests and offers greater security.
By following these practical tips, you will be able to significantly reduce the energy consumption of your holiday rental.
