Renters are doing their part to save the environment. During a national survey, more than 65 percent of renters told Apartments.com that practicing an environmentally-friendly lifestyle is a high priority. To conserve energy, 52 percent of renters are turning off lights and computers when not in use, setting air conditioners and heaters on timers and using energy-efficient light bulbs. Twenty-two percent are recycling paper, plastics and electronics.

Those who are not actively seeking out ways to conserve and maintain the environment indicated the number one reason as not having access to an on-site recycling program at their apartment. As peak rental season ramps up around the country, renters are also going "green" during their apartment search. More than 60 percent of renters said they search for apartments that offer environmentally-friendly amenities and 25 percent are willing to pay more rent to live at an apartment community that considers the environment in their day-to-day community operations. This level of environmental consciousness reflects not only how renters live, but could also translate into where they choose to live.

Apartment communities that offer environmentally-friendly amenities are more likely to turn undecided renters into residents. Seventeen percent of renters said they would not rent an apartment without environmentally-friendly amenities. Additionally, more than half of renters surveyed indicated they would take an apartment community's commitment to environmental issues into consideration. Survey results showed that energy-efficient windows and on-site recycling programs have the most impact on renter's decision to rent an apartment. Other desirable amenities are energy-efficient appliances, environmentally-safe cleaning products, non-toxic paint, energy-efficient light bulbs, low water-flow devices and automated and/or paperless processes for paying rent and placing maintenance requests.

Fifty-seven percent of renters said their apartment community does not currently provide environmentally-friendly amenities. However, the 43 percent that do offer amenities renters desire most. When asked to choose all that apply, renters identified the five most popular amenities offered at their apartment community as:

1. On-site recycling programs (59%)
2. Energy-efficient light bulbs (32%)
3. Low water-flow devices (31%)
4. Energy-efficient windows (26%)
5. Automated and/or paperless processes for online transactions (24%)

In comparison to a similar renter survey conducted by Apartments.com in 2007, the availability of on-site recycling programs has increased by 16 percent and energy-efficient windows by nine percent.