If you plan ahead and bring along this easy-to-follow checklist, you’ll be keeping an eye on energy usage before you even move in. And that can save you money, as well as ensure you’re doing your part in keeping the planet green!

Here’s are a few things you might want to keep an eye on when home-hunting:

• Convenient location. Will the physical location of your new home be convenient for all of your traveling needs? A lengthy commute to and from work can quickly add up to a lot of wasted time and energy. The same can be said for traveling to the grocery store, to visit friends, go shopping, etc.
• The size of your living space. Does your potential new home have too you little or too much space? If your new space is larger than you need it to be, you might find yourself wasting energy on heating and cooling costs, as you pay to heat and cool parts of your home that you scarcely use.
• Does the location have energy-efficient appliances?
• How will you be charged for heating and cooling? Some apartments roll heating and cooling costs into rent, as they heat the entire building and divide the costs evenly for each apartment.
• Check to see if the location has CFL bulbs installed.
• Where are the windows located? You can easily use the sun to your advantage in colder months, but you’ll also want to be able to keep the sunlight out of your home during the summer. Make sure both of these things are possible.
• If you are working with a realtor, specifically ask for energy efficient options.

Looking for more ways to increase your energy efficiency as a renter? Check out this Bright Insights blog post to learn several ways to save energy in your rented home!

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