This is my first post in the"going green" category, but hopefully more will follow soon! I saw a post on MSN today titled "The Top 17 Things You Didn’t Know You Could Rent", originally from http://www.thedailygreen.com/ I believe. I picked 5 that were of most interest to me.
1. Solar Panels (Originally #11)
The high entry cost for solar panels (typically tens of thousands of dollars) has kept many interested homeowners away from renewable energy. But now more and more companies are exploring rental and lease models. For example, Citizenrē REnU offers rental agreements that require no purchases or hassles with permits or service. Participants normally end up paying less for electricity than they would from their utility over time.
My Response: This sounds like a great idea and more practical than taking on a large upfront investment. Aside from being good for the environment and “saving” you money over time, I think it could potentially be profitable. If you live in an area that pays for “surplus” electricity that you generate, and are generating more than the rental payment costs… Does that make sense? Anyway, check out their "Solar Savings Calculator" on this page under site resources to see the impact for your area.
2. Textbooks (Originally #6)
In The Long Tail, Chris Anderson sheds some light on the textbook business, which can take a substantial chunk out of student budgets. Anderson writes that textbook makers command high prices because students have little choice. Planned obsolescence means new editions come out frequently, and typically have different page numbers to discourage reuse. You may not always be able to sell back your books when you pass the class, and even if you can you aren’t guaranteed a lot of money.
You may be able to bypass the system and save by picking up books from Craigslist or from other students. Or rent textbooks for cheap from Chegg.com. The service is quick and simple, and boasts free shipping on returning books (not unlike Netflix). Plus, Chegg plants a tree for every book users rent, sell or buy. So far more than one million have been planted! Rental costs on Chegg range from about 10% of list price to about 30%.
My Response: This is a great idea, I wish it existed when I was in college. Of course I assume many students will do the easy, err lazy thing, and walk down to the local student bookstore to pick up what they need.
3. Dogs (Originally #9)
Although the concept of renting a pet might seem shocking to some (best friends?), there are circumstances where it might make sense, such as comforting the elderly, testing if a particular breed triggers your allergies or gauging how your family reacts to an animal. Others would like a companion for hikes but can’t keep a pet at home. A company called Flexpetz offers customers the chance to spend time with a trained dog for a few hours or at regular intervals. Some of the animals are trained in therapeutic behavior, and a wide range of breeds are available. All are said to be rescued or "rehomed," and when not with a customer they live in the home of a caregiver. Many end up finding permanent homes with customers. Participants can save hundreds of dollars a year on food, supplies, vet bills and other expenses of animal ownership. More: Flexpetz
Response: This sounds interesting. I think it would be great to see how well you can handle having a pet if you aren’t sure. However, I would have some reservations about how quickly the dog could adapt to a new owner though.
4. Designer Handbags (Originally #14)
Get the Sex and the City look by renting designer handbags instead of buying. It will still cost you plenty, so this isn’t for green cheapskates, but at least you won’t have a closet full of accessories you never use. Options include Avelle Bag Borrow or Steal or "Be A Fashionista" in the UK and "Shoulder Candy" in Canada. Jewelry, watches, luggage, sunglasses and other items are also rentable.
Become an Avelle member (starting at $9.95 a month) and rent a Louis Vuitton handbag for $43 a week. Elsewhere the same bag retails for $750. More: Avelle
My Response: This sounds like a great service for women, especially the “shop-a-holic” type. For women this is a way to showcase style without spending crazy amounts of money for something that will only be used for a relatively short period of time. Generally I’d compare a women’s bag to a men’s watch in terms of fashion sense… yes / no?
5. Camping Gear (Originally #8)
Camping gear can also easily cost hundreds of dollars to get outfitted, and many people find that they don’t go enough to justify that expense. If you only use a tent once a year, does it
make sense to let it moulder in your basement? Lots of local camping shops do a healthy rental business, as do larger chains like Eastern Mountain Sports. Search: Eastern Mountain Sports
My Response: Some “light” campers might like this sort of thing for camping trips, rather then committing to a purchase.
Honorable Mention: Fembot (Originally #16)
Make like Austin Powers with your very own fembot. You can rent the Actroid DER2 Fembot for $3,500 for five days. What’s that? A Japanese-made android with some impressively realistic movements and expressions. You will certainly impress friends or clients!
My Response: Straight scary… Take a second to see the video on this blog post.