While the term green building may conjure up images of costly renovations like positioning our house in relation to the sun, in reality, many of us are at the mercy of our landlords. Who keeps an eye on efficiency? As a renter, how can you ‘green’ your humble abode?

One way is to voice these concerns when you’re shopping around for a new place. Take the opportunity to bring energy efficiency into the conversation when visiting potential units.

Beyond who will pay the bills, ask questions about efficiency and maintenance. For example, if you want to further insulate your hot water heater, will your landlord pay for the materials? (A foil blanket on an electric water tank stops up to 97 percent of radiant heat loss which, depending on the location of your tank, means the $20 device will pay for itself within a year.)

Ask to see utility bills from previous months. Try to choose an apartment with low energy bills –and don’t be shy about telling your potential landlords that this is factoring into your decision.

If the house or apartment needs new appliances, suggest those with the Energy Star seal of approval. (A joint program by the U.S. Department of Energy and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the seal has become an internationally-recognized system for recognizing sustainable, money-saving products.)

Inquire about caulking around windows and outlet covers, as well as weather stripping around the base of doors. (According to the Alliance to Save Energy, 10 percent of all heat loss is through cracks in windows.)

Ask about installing low-flow attachments on faucets, and a programmable thermostat (costs).

And remind your future landlord that improving the energy efficiency of a unit can increase a home’s property value!