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Sustainability trends keep growing in strength as they continue to influence major industries and several areas in our society. Even rental properties have been swept by the need to boost environment-friendly practices. The government has imposed strict measures to push property investors and developers to build sustainable properties. These rules also cover existing properties so landlords and property owners have started adding eco-friendly features to comply with the sustainability regulations.
Short lets, in particular, have been subjected to scrutiny as travellers expressed their preference for eco-friendly accommodations. Reports reveal that more than 7 out of 10 travellers prefer eco-friendly accommodations. It’s part of their effort to minimise their environmental impact.
What does this mean for property investors? Sustainability can improve a property’s performance and bring significant portfolio growth. One of the ways that you can practise sustainability is through energy-efficient and eco-friendly practices.
In this article, you’ll discover how to make your property more sustainable through energy-efficient and other eco-friendly practices. You’ll also get tips to help your short-term rental properties be more appealing to eco-conscious guests.
About Energy-Efficiency and Eco-Friendly Properties
What does it mean to be more energy-efficient and eco-friendly?
Energy efficiency refers to the minimal use of resources while maintaining maximum output. In a short-term letting property, this means designing a property or using technological devices and equipment to reduce energy consumption without compromising convenience, security and comfort. It also means using energy in a way that minimises negative environmental impact. Among the examples of energy-efficient methods include improving property insulation, optimising heating and cooling systems, and using solar panels and other renewable energy sources.
Eco-friendly, on the other hand, is about choosing strategies and processes that prioritise environmental responsibility. It’s about setting up operations and using amenities that won’t harm the environment. In a rental property, this would mean using cleaning products that aren’t made of toxic chemicals. It’s about installing fixtures and equipment that reduce the waste of natural resources. It’s about adopting strategies to minimise the property’s carbon footprint while providing the utmost comfort and functionality.
Implementing energy efficient and eco-friendly practices requires investment but it’s worth it because of certain incentives given by the local government. Before May 2023, the government offered the Green Homes Grant to help landlords and property owners fund sustainable improvements in their properties. There are also mortgage discounts for “green buy-to-let” applications as well as tax incentives for complying with energy-efficient regulations.
Currently, there’s a call to encourage the government to provide more incentives for sustainable short lets to encourage more property owners to invest in energy-efficient and eco-friendly properties.
Tips to Make Rental Properties More Sustainable
Transforming short lets into sustainable rental properties requires you to focus on the consumption of energy, water and other resources. It also means paying attention to waste and carbon footprint reduction.
When choosing what practices to implement, pay attention to what reduces your property’s environmental impact while enhancing guest satisfaction and property value.
Make the property more energy-efficient
Conduct a home energy audit to identify areas where energy is used inefficiently.
- Improve the insulation. See if there’s a need to improve the property’s insulation to help regulate the temperature within. Upgrade the insulation along the wall and flooring. You can consider fibreglass, spray foam, etc. Make sure there are no air leaks because these will increase the energy consumption of your heating and cooling systems.
- Check the windows and doors. Do this as you’re upgrading the insulation in your property. Air leaks are common in outdated or poorly installed windows and doors. Check for gaps, cracks and other worn-out areas. If anything needs replacing, you can opt for energy-efficient windows and doors - specifically those with double or triple glazing. These will reduce heat transfer and improve the energy performance in the property.
- Let more natural light in. Keep the windows clear and free from blockage. This will allow more natural light to come in and minimise the need for artificial lights during the day. Strategically placed windows, glass doors and even skylights can optimise the penetration of the sunlight inside.
- Switch to LED lights. LED or light-emitting diode fixtures consume less energy and last longer compared to fluorescent or incandescent bulbs. This doesn’t add to the heat inside the property - which makes it ideal for short lets. It can reduce the shortlet’s energy consumption.
- Change old appliances and electrical equipment/devices. Check all your appliances and electronic equipment to see if they have the right energy labels. Replace the old ones with Energy Star-certified alternatives.
- Upgrade heating and cooling systems. Use only highly efficient HVAC systems. If you have gas boilers, convert them into electric versions. This is easier to maintain and more eco-friendly.
- Opt for renewable energy sources. If there’s a way to install solar panels or wind turbines to provide a renewable energy source, think about investing in it. This will lower your utility bill and make your property more sustainable and energy efficient.
- Install a smart meter. Technology is very useful in monitoring the energy consumption of a property. It’ll give you valuable data about energy usage and trends so you can implement strategies to minimise waste.
Implement eco-friendly practices
Apart from being energy-efficient, implementing eco-friendly practices can also improve the sustainability of your short lets. Here are some ideas that you can focus on.
- Waste management. This can help you reduce the environmental footprint of your rental properties. Provide labelled bins so guests can dispose of the trash correctly. It’s also important to have reusable containers like glass jars and stainless canisters on the property so guests won’t have to keep using disposable ones.
- Water conservation. Install water-efficient fixtures to conserve water. Among the options include faucet aerators, low-flow showerheads and dual flush toilets. Provide instructions near these fixtures so guests know how to operate them to conserve water. Encourage them to take shorter showers and close faucets properly when not in use. You can also install a water leak detector to be notified of leaks. This will allow you to schedule immediate repairs on the property.
- Choose environmentally safe household products. Use biodegradable and toxic-free cleaning agents. Several brands are producing eco-friendly household supplies and even pest control options. This is not only good for the environment, it also won’t compromise the health of your guests.
- Incorporate sustainability in the house rules. Be specific about the eco-friendly nature of your short lets when you create the house rules in their respective property profiles. Be transparent about your preference for eco-friendly practices and sustainable behaviours so guests can act accordingly during their stay.
- Use eco-friendly amenities. Apart from energy-efficient appliances, try to offer other eco-friendly amenities like bike storage facilities, directions to community gardens, etc. Provide organic soap, shampoo and conditioner for your guests to use. You can also decorate the rental with items made of recycled materials. Adding a description of the recycled items would delight eco-conscious guests and might even lead to future rebookings.
Feel free to post instructions around the property to guide guests as they use the amenities you provided. This will help them practice sustainability and support your eco-friendly practices.
Partner with an Eco-Friendly Property Management Company
Transforming your short lets into energy-efficient and eco-friendly properties requires commitment and dedication. It’s worth the effort and investment because it won’t just help the environment, it can also attract a new market of eco-conscious guests. Prioritising sustainability will help you reduce overhead costs and keep your property compliant with local rules.
At Opago, we are committed to promoting sustainable and eco-friendly practices in all the properties we manage. We understand how it can benefit multi-property owners and we are ready to help you transform your properties into clean, energy-efficient and eco-friendly shortlets for eco-conscious guests.
Partnering with us will give you access to our network of green companies that supply us with biodegradable and environment-friendly amenities. If you’d like to know more about sustainable properties, contact us today. We can discuss how to improve your properties and how our eco-friendly property management services can support your green initiatives.
