Common questions about energy efficiency in apartments and small homes.
In most apartments, heating and cooling use the most energy—often half or more of total use. Water heating is typically second. Refrigerators, laundry appliances, and lighting follow. The exact breakdown depends on your climate, habits, and the efficiency of your appliances. See our understanding energy use guide for more details.
Adjusting your heating and cooling habits typically has the biggest impact. Setting your thermostat a few degrees lower in winter (and higher in summer) makes a meaningful difference. If you haven't already switched to LED bulbs, that's another high-impact, easy change. Beyond that, it depends on your specific situation and habits.
For most appliances, turning off when not in use is more efficient. The idea that starting appliances uses extra energy is largely a myth for modern devices. Exceptions include refrigerators (which need to stay on) and HVAC systems where extreme temperature swings can be less efficient than maintaining a moderate temperature.
For short absences, raising the temperature setting (rather than turning off completely) is usually more efficient. For longer absences, turning it off or setting much higher makes sense. Turning off completely means the AC works harder to cool down a very hot space when you return. A programmable thermostat can automate this.
Fans don't lower air temperature—they create a wind chill effect that makes you feel cooler. This is why fans are efficient: they cool people, not spaces. Turn fans off in unoccupied rooms since they don't lower the room temperature. See our summer cooling guide for more strategies.
Upper floors tend to be hotter because heat rises. South and west-facing windows receive more direct sun. Poor insulation and single-pane windows also contribute. Solutions include blocking direct sun with curtains, using night ventilation to flush heat, and improving window efficiency. See our window efficiency guide.
Yes, but very little. Modern phone chargers draw minimal standby power—typically less than half a watt. It's still good practice to unplug unused chargers, but the energy impact is small compared to other phantom loads like cable boxes or gaming consoles. See our phantom loads guide.
It depends. Individually, most standby loads are small. But many devices together can add up. Focus on the bigger phantom loads (entertainment centers, computers) rather than every small device. A power strip makes it easy to cut power to grouped devices with one switch.
Yes. LED bulbs use about 75-80% less energy than incandescent bulbs for the same light output. If you haven't switched yet, it's one of the easiest efficiency improvements. Modern LEDs produce warm, pleasant light and last for years. See our lighting guide.
More than you might think. You can: switch to LED bulbs (keep originals), use removable weatherstripping, add window insulation film, manage thermostat settings, use power strips to control phantom loads, adjust hot water habits, and make smart choices with any appliances you own. See our main guide for renter-specific tips.
You'll need landlord permission, and you should keep the original thermostat to reinstall when you leave. Some landlords allow it; others don't. Check compatibility with your HVAC system before asking. See our smart thermostat guide.
Several renter-friendly options exist: removable weatherstripping, draft snakes under doors, rope caulk around windows, and window insulation film. For serious draft problems, document them and report to your landlord—many jurisdictions require landlords to maintain weatherization. See our draft sealing guide.