Apartment builders as well as single family home builders strive to build energy efficient dwellings. And, most apartments built in recent years also reflect careful attention to energy efficiency. But older apartments - those built when gas, electricity and water didn't cost a lot - might not be quite as efficient. That may or may not have mattered to renters 20 or 30 years ago, when utility costs were more typically included in the monthly rent, but rising utility costs have forced property managers to make sure residents are aware of - and in control of - their energy and water use.
The good news is that using less energy doesn't have to mean doing without. By using some basic conservation strategies, apartment dwellers can put a lid on utility expenditures.
Heat and Air Conditioning - If your unit has an automatic setback thermostat, you can preset the temperature to be warm when you're home, and cooler when you're away. If your unit doesn't have a setback thermostat, you still can set it back manually when you leave for work in the morning and raise the temperature when you return. Setting it back during the night - when everyone is under blankets - is cost effective and saves energy.
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Insulated drapes can hold heat in at night. If you have a sunny view, draw them back during the day to let the sun warm the apartment. Reverse the process in the summertime to keep the apartment cool.
Exterior walls can get cold. A large, thick decorative hanging, such as a quilt, can cut heat loss in winter, and keep inside air cooler in summer.
Remember that turning the thermostat up to 75 or 80 degrees won't warm the apartment any quicker - and if you forget to turn it back once you're comfortable, you'll soon be uncomfortably warm, and you'll have paid for wasted heat. The same is true, in reverse, for air conditioning.
Wrap your water heater with an insulated cover. This slows down heat loss and prevents the water heater from turning on frequently. You'll also save money.
Water- If you're paying for water, check to see if your unit has a low-flow toilet. If it doesn't, consider filling a small plastic screw-cap soda bottle with water, and placing it in the toilet tank. That will save water with every flush.
Many units already have low-flow shower heads. If yours doesn't, you might consider buying one - either a basic version, or one of the new luxury models that make a reduced flow feel like a lot more.
If you have plants, keep a small plastic bucket in your shower. The extra clean water will fill the bucket, and you can use that "free" water on your greenery.
Don't run your dishwasher until it's full.
Electricity-Compact fluorescent light bulbs are perfect for ceiling fixtures. They cost more to buy, but less to use. Not only do they save energy but, because they last longer, you don't have to haul out the ladder as often to change them. The newest compact fluorescent bulbs work in table lamps as well, and the quality of the light they emit has improved - they no longer make everyone look slightly green.
A surprising number of appliances and electronic equipment are always on, at some low level. That's important for refrigerators, but for computers and remote-controlled televisions, it can be an energy drain. A timer between the equipment and the outlet can cut electricity to your equipment when you're not around and still have it up and ready when you're there.
The easiest way to get an energy-efficient apartment home is to rent one recently built or upgraded by a builder committed to incorporating the latest advances in construction technology. But these tips should help you cut your expenses - without sacrificing comfort - while you save for the home you want.
