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Renters
As renters, there are a lot of ways to reduce your energy bill and many rights which the City of Spokane upholds. Keep scrolling to discover just some of the duties which landlords are expected to follow...
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While there are many more of these, we included relevant duties here. This list is just a small part of the Residential Landlord-Tenant Act. Some of these include:
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“Maintain all electrical, plumbing, heating, and facilities and appliances supplied by them in reasonably good working order”
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“Maintain the dwelling unit in reasonably weathertight condition”
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“Provide facilities adequate to supply heat and water and hot water as reasonably required by the tenant”
Now that you know what your rights are as a tenant, what can you do if your landlord does not follow the previously defined duties? The Tenant’s Rights Act covers this.
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The landlord shall commence remedial action after receipt of such notice by the tenant as soon as possible but not later than the following time periods, except where circumstances are beyond the landlord's control:
(1)
Not more than twenty-four hours, where the defective condition deprives the tenant of hot or cold water, heat, or electricity, or is imminently hazardous to life;
(2)
Not more than seventy-two hours, where the defective condition deprives the tenant of the use of a refrigerator, range and oven, or a major plumbing fixture supplied by the landlord.
(3)
Not more than ten days in all other cases. In each instance the burden shall be on the landlord to see that remedial work under this section is completed promptly.
Landlords
Beyond the previously listed landlord duties listed within the Landlord-Tenants Act, there are many ways landlords can improve the efficiencies of their properties. Before you update, you should be aware of Spokane’s Building Code...
Here are some simple ways to improve your property's efficiency...
Simply changing your light bulbs to more efficient LED options can have a dramatic effect.
Seal air ducts to prevent heat loss.
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Replace drafty doors and windows to prevent heat loss during cold seasons.
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Increase insulation in attics, ceilings, and walls.
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These options may seem high-cost, but will not only save your or your tenants money in the long run. You can even get tax breaks for efficient properties.
Occupants
As occupants, there are many DIY options to lower the cost of your monthly energy bills. These may hold a larger initial cost, but will save you a lot of money in your electricity bills. Keep scrolling to discover how you can drastically reduce your bill...
In the winter
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Install a programmable thermostat. Adjust temperature settings according to a preset schedule.
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Check your fireplace. Make sure it's properly vented. Your fireplace will draw heated air from inside your house if there isn't a proper amount of outside air for combustion. ​
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Put in a ceiling fan with an option to reverse the air flow. Set the direction the motor turns so you can blow the warm air back down into the living space.
In the summer
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Use heat producing appliances such as dishwashers, ovens, ranges, and dryers after 7:00 p.m., if possible.
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Keep drapes and blinds closed during the day. Block out heat from the sun.
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Landscape with shade trees or vines or install awnings on south-facing windows to reduce heat from the outside.
All year
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Use glass or ceramic pans in ovens. Then you can turn down the temperature about 25 degrees and foods will cook just as quickly.
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Keep showers short and use low-flow shower heads. A short shower uses less hot water than a bath.
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Fix leaky faucets. A small drip can be the equivalent of wasting a bathtub full of hot water each month.
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Insulate water pipes. It's easy and will prevent hot water in the pipes from cooling too quickly.
Resources
Visit Avista to see how you can become more energy efficient.
See Zillow for more information on specific rental information
The City of Spokane provides municipal codes to educate both tenants and landlords about their rights and duties.