How to Save Money on the Electric Bill on Your Vacation Rental
Simple answer: Get a Nest Thermostat.
I have tried many forms of money saving for my clients over the years, and one of the best ways money-savers overall is the Nest Thermostat. Let me start off by saying that I'm not getting paid by Nest (or anyone) for giving this advice. If you're looking for a way to save money on your electricity bill for your Airbnb/short-term/vacation rental, this is one way to do it.
This is particularly important if you're living in warm weather climate, where the AC is running all the time, like summer in Arizona. If permitted, I install a Nest thermostat in every property I manage.
Reasons Why Nest Saves You Money and Time
There are several reasons why it saves you money (and time):
1. Remote Temperature Control
I can control the temperature remotely. The Nest app lets me and my team control temperatures remotely, especially before or after guests come. This is where you can run into the most issues, as sometimes the cleaners can forget, and your AC is running non-stop.
2. Automatic Eco Mode
The Nest will detect if there's no activity and put itself in "eco" mode. If you set up the Nest in "Eco Mode" and use its motion detector feature, it will automatically adjust the temperatures when guests are away, which is a huge money saver.
3. Set It and Forget It
It's not something I have to constantly think about. Not having to constantly take the time to physically go to a property and turn the AC or heat on and off is a huge time saver, but also is not an extra thing I have to think of or worry about in the property. I can set the temperature ranges to prevent excess when there's nobody in the property, and schedule that aligns with check-ins and check-outs.
4. Temperature Lock Feature
It has temperature lock. This feature is great, as many times guests will overshoot a thermostat, especially in the summer, and never change it. Not only does this cause problems for the AC or heating units, but it runs the cost of electricity. Setting a lock on a minimum and a maximum temperature gives us and the owners peace of mind, as we can change it based on the seasons.
5. Sustainability Benefits
It's sustainable. I already mentioned motion detector and eco mode, but Nest also lets you set a fan to circulate air without overusing the AC or heating systems. You can also monitor energy to track usage if you feel it's over the limit with real-time data.
6. User-Friendly Interface
It's easy to use. I have found that I rarely get questions on how to use this, it's one of the easiest systems for guests to use. The instructions are very easy and don't require a lot of effort.