conserving energy

[Karsten-and-Venus0]

We're new hosts and noticed that most of our guests don't care about preseving energy, dispite our house rules. The A/C and lights stay on all day when the guests are not home. We put up a sign to remind them of the house rules to save energy and it acually got worse. We have not red flaged those guests as of yet but thinking about it.

Is that just something you have to learn how to deal with as a host ?

Thank you for any advise,

Venus & Karsten

[Sandy33]

I have this problem, too.  All suggestions will be welcomed!

[Loft0]

This is part of my rule:

--Green--
Please turn off all lights and air-conditioner(AC) upon exiting the unit at all times. Any excessive use of electricity will be deducted from your security deposit at USD$10 per night during your entire stay.

[Linda108]

@Karsten-and-Venus0  There is no incentive for a guest to be aware of energy consumption unless they are inclined in their own lives.  You  really cannot give a negative review on this issue but you could start a conversation about being "Green" during your pre-booking communication.  Putting stuff in your description or in little signs is not too effective, but direct and repeated communication is more effective.  If you greet your guests personally, you might orient them to how to turn down the air conditioner and where the light switches are.  Sounds dumb, but a rule of all effective communication is repeat...repeat...repeat:)

[Susan-and-Glen0]

We have the same issue. Makes me wonder how they live at home.

[Ange2]

@Karsten-and-Venus0  Timers, remotes, Apps, energy saving lightbulbs, all can be cost effective in the long run, especially for A/C, it costs me a fortune when people leave it on full blast for the whole day when they are out and is such a waste of energy.  Luckily, I mostly have considerate guests who are well aware of the need to conserve for more than just the purpose of saving money.  Coin meters could be an idea, clunky and possibly an affront to some guests,  but definitely an education in energy usage/wastage.

[David126]

You can ask but realistically you either need to keep control or include the cost in your rates.

[Giovanni100]

The best piece of advice I can offer you is to get a NEST and stay on top of communication. See if guests are home or not and then you can control the AC at least from your phone from anywhere. It helps you a little. Also a reminder on the door that they are exiting could be very helpful some people are truly forgetful and don't mean to. Finally you can program your AC to certain hours of the day maybe low traffic hours it could automatically reduce itself a little bit or even potentially shut off and just let guests know it's simple to turn back on I know these aren't ideal but people surprisingly don't remember we pay electrical just like they do.

[James189]

Of course conserving energy is better for us all. However, what I am going to say will be upsetting, I know. Your guests are exactly that - your guests. A host ought to be honoured that they have chosen to stay in their Airbnb sin a highly competitive market. They are on holiday or on business and looking for a relaxing place to stay. It is your responsibility as a host to provide as relaxing an environment as possible - and that should be a primary motivator. It may be they're from Iceland, so they find Taxas hot. It may be they're from Texas, so they find Iceland cold. In each case the guests will use more power.

We host in Australia, where electricity costs are some of the highest in the world. I get a shock every time the bill arrives. But this is what being a Superhost is.

If you provide a wonderful environment and experience your guests will love you and write amazing reviews (trust me). Then people will be falling over themselves and you will he able to increase your rates, far more than compensating for the power bills.

As for the health of the planet, the sad shame is that so many people just don't care, even if they won't admit it. I know that polite little notes (such as asking guests to turn off the lights and aircon at the door) work really well. A nice way to present this information is to put it below the info on wifi, that way they are certain to read it with an active mind.

[Ange2]

@James189   I agree but also disagree.  I agree hosts should do all they can to offer a relaxing, comfortable environment. But, that does not absolve the guest from being responsible. Guests should also be happy and cognizant that they are paying well below market price for a place where the host is personally committed to their comfort, well-being and offers personal touches and interactions to make their stay enjoyable and unique.  I suggest ways to conserve upon arrival when showing them around, such as when they are out to draw the curtains, turn the A/C down, the lights off.  But, I never remind them if they decide not to pay attention. As you note comfort and relaxtion is key.

People having different comfort levels is absolutely fine and should definitely be catered for.  But, I fail to see how leaving an A/C on full blast when they  are out all day has anything to do with that.  Or, how finding ways to address this wastage would be seen as a negative.

The sad fact is that more often than not, in my experience,  many are just not aware of wasteful habits. We are so used to thinking that everything is limitless, nature is boundless, that it really does take hints to make us aware and instill good habits in us that save energy and resources.

I stayed in a country with a water crisis and the host politely asked me why I needed so much water to boil one egg - the water covered the egg. I had never thought about why I needed to cook it like that.  But I was happy that someone had educated me into ways of conservation that had not dawned on me and I could use when back home, such as guests boiling a full ten-cup kettle of water, for one cup of tea. I have now bought a much smaller kettle and a one/two egg saucepan.

[Bob39]

To save your lighting bill, replace all light bulbs with LED bulbs. I did this in my house, replacing 37 bulbs and it cost me almost $200 to do it, but my next electric bill was only $16 and it has been consistently low. I don't worry at all how many lights tge guests leave on, since LED bulbs use so little electricity. The best prices on LED bulbs, by far, are at IKEA. If there is no IKEA store near you, you can just order them at ikea.com

I assume the humidity in San Antonio is low, but I've never been there. If it is primarily a desert type climate with low humidity, you might consider replacing your air conditioner with a swamp cooler (evaporative cooler). They cost less to run than air conditioners, but they only work well in low-humidity climates such as deserts. You may want to research this to learn the costs and the pros and cons of each type of cooling. You might also think about providing fans in the house and install a ceiling fan or two.

As far as the cost of air conditioning, the actual cost of it will vary, depending on the air conditioning unit you have and the price of electricity in your area, and how many hours it is used, and what temperature you are trying to get in the house, etc. So it's hard to pinpoint an exact cost per day for your house. This page: http://asm-air.com/airconditioning/much-cost-run-air-conditioner/ goes into a detailed discussion, and calculates an imaginary scenario using average data, a final cost of just over $12 per day, assuming the air conditioner was running all 24 hours of the day. It's not likely to be used that much, but it's possible.

So in your case I would just increase your rental price by $12 per day, during the hot months only. That way, the guest is paying for the air conditioning whether they use it or not.

[Melanie58]

For the A/C being on all day, I think this may be regional.  I am from Oklahoma.  I learned growing up to pull the curtains and windows open early in the morning, then shut them as soon as the sun came up.  Then keep the curtains facing the sun closed throughout the day.  Of course we were used to the heat so could keep the house warmer.  

For the lights, I love the suggestion to use timer switches, especially in bathrooms - so convenient!  Swapping out bulbs would help too - but remember, it is an unfamiliar house.  My  grandparents couldn't see that well as they aged and always wanted to have a hall light on.  I often go into the basement at night and people have left on the lights in the main living area - I think it feels comforting/like a safety thing.  For people who leave on lights when no one is home, that is maybe more puzzling, but I can see how when one is on vacation their routine may be interrupted a little.  

[Ange2]

@Melanie58 @Karsten-and-Venus0 

Great idea! I always suggest drawing curtains when they are out. It does make an enormous difference.

For safety and for people who do not see well in the dark I do have LED night lights in hallways, bathrooms and kitchen that automatically light up when it gets dark and also  bright motion sensor lights to add to that so you don't have to fumble around looking for light switches if you need more light to see. You can also buy solar charging ones, so no electricity is used. I put them on the windowsill to charge in the daytime.  Most people do not feel the need to turn on lights (and forget to turn them off) with these in place.

[Cookie0]

Here's a good idea get a cover over your thermostats it comes with a lock and keys that will help with the ac then you can get a remote to control they lights

[Sandra126]

@James189 is right, guests have to do what they need to do to feel comfortable. I do know that some are wild consumers (at home too, I should think) and others are extremely cautious, for environmental concerns. It would not be because of the bill as they are not usually affected by it.

If you want to attract more green guests, and your place is green in some way, stress the whys and wherefores in the listing as green guests are interested in staying in places which have a green lean.

In summer I walk guests through my place showing the path of the sun, which shutters to close and open when. In a short stay it is not easy to know that the blasting afternoon sun will have heated the house if a particular window was left unshuttered, for instance.

Definitely get LED globes if you haven't already. Just replace them when they break.