Q: How can apartment renters economically harness the power of solar energy?
Sent by April
Editor: Think of generating your own power as the last step in your approach to saving energy. Step one is conservation. That means CFL or LED bulbs in light fixtures, rethinking the setting on the thermostat (or getting on the phone with building management if you live in one of those buildings that's always way, way too hot). If you've got a really super landlord, perhaps they'll take the plunge and put solar panels up on the roof or, as in the photo to the left, as shading devices for south-facing windows.
If you get your own electric bill, you can call the utility and switch to a greener form of energy. (Not many offer solar power, but most offer a greener option, like wind energy.)
See also this post from Unplggd on solar panels for apartment dwellers.
Any other suggestions for April?
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Images: 1. Natural Home Blog; 2. Jonathan Bean
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I'm pretty sure if you can't afford a house then solar panels are out of your budget too :)
not in NYC the_doc... we have apartments a plenty but houses are more scarce. i'd lovet o turn my apartment building green but have 6 other apartment owners to convince. they aren't sold. boo hoo me.
A landlord with a small apartment building might be willing to consider a solar lease or power purchase agreeement--companies like Sungevity.com will install the system for free and then the customer pays monthly the same or less than what the electric bill used to be. If all the tenants are on board (and there's no reason they wouldn't b/c they have nothing to lose), then the landlord can lease the system and collect monthly payments from the tenants along with rent.