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How to Cut Your Energy Costs

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Cutting back on your energy usage is not only good for your wallet but also good for the environment. Here are a few simple things that anyone can do to save hundreds of dollars a year! We’ve also got tips on how to keep your apartment comfy, all throughout the year, without a major energy bill.

Save Cash

Close vents you are not using. Whether it’s summer or winter, closing up vents in rooms that you don’t spend a lot of time in is a smart way to cut back on electric costs. Why heat or cool a room that no one is in? Keep the door to the room that you’re not heating or cooling closed. Whether it’s summer or winter, closing up vents in rooms that you don’t spend a lot of time in is a smart way to cut back on electric costs.

Turn off the lights and electronics when they are not being used. When you walk out of a room, turn off the light. Seriously, these costs do add up over time.

Use your range oven only when necessary. Try to prepare foods in a microwave or toaster oven instead, both use less energy.

Use nightlights in bathrooms and hallways. These lights save energy and prevent you from having to switch the lights on and off when you get up at night.

Stay Warm

Keep your shades up and blinds open. This will help you to make the most of solar energy. Studies also show that being exposed to sunlight can help improve your mood.

Use your ceiling fans in reverse. This draws warm air through your home.

Use compact fluorescent lighting. These bulbs use less than half the energy of incandescent light bulbs and last longer.

Use appliances wisely. Your dishwasher and washing machine use a good chunk of energy as well as water. Run them only when you have a full load.

Keep your landlord in check. Speak to your landlord or building manager to ensure that the furnace and air filter in your building are clean. A properly working furnace will cost less to run that a dirty or broken one.

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gino


how is it possible that you save more by setting the thermostat at 78 and not 72?

rich


your a.c. doesn’t come on as often.

 
 
Apartments.com


Gino,

When it is warm outside, the cooler you have your thermostat set, the more energy it takes to run it. If you keep it set higher (less cool) inside, you don’t use as much energy, thus, saving money.

It’s just the opposite for cooler weather.

Thanks for reading!

 
Kathy


To be honest, I actually turn my heat off in the winter (only been in my apartment during the fall and winter). I’ve got a space heater that I turn on when I get cold and when I get hot, I just open my sliding glass door.

 
mariska


if you live in an apartment is it required that they supply you with a new air filter every month just to save energy? i know its common to change every three months. thanx

Eliz


yes they provide the filter, just ask! change every month!

 
rich


My uncle who is an air conditioning contractor told us to change ours monthly after he put in our central air system.

 
 
Diana


I can’t wait to move so I can have ceiling fans again. thanks for all your tips!!!

 
nancy


yes, how do you save money by setting your thermostat at 78 and not 72?

 
Apartments.com


Nancy,

As also requested by Gino, here’s our answer:

When it is warm outside, the cooler you have your thermostat set, the more energy it takes to run it. If you keep it set higher (less cool) inside, you don’t use as much energy, thus, saving money.

It’s just the opposite for cooler weather.

Thanks for reading!

 
jerry


It takes more power to run a thermostat cooler than it does to run it hotter.

 
s


Gino-
If you set your thermostat at 78 not 72 DURING WARM WEATHER then it is cheaper because it does not have to cool your house down as much!

 
KImberly


These are very good suggestions. I think I will keep them in mind.

It’s my first home!!! :)

Thank you for the tips.

 
Jessie


Plugging appliances into surge protectors and turning the surge protectors off when they’re not in use is a good way of saving money too. Even though your TV’s off, it’s still using energy (called phantom loads).

 
JAMES,JACKSON


how is that you save more by setting
themostat at 78 and not72

 
giovanni


hey thanks for the good tips ,can some body tell me if foxmeadow apartmennts have big bedrooms

 
BEYONKA


I’m so glad I found some of this info out.  I can’t wait to see how much money I save on my next bill is going to be next month!  Thanks

 
Sai Elvin Ellerbee


THANK YOU.

 
Personal: S.E.E


THANK YOU..

 
Dorothy Irby


Thanks for the tips on “How to cut Energy Costs”. I would never have guessed that closing the vents to rooms we’re not using would save on my power bill.
Being a single parent, I have to cut cost every chance I can get. Thanks again.
Dorothy

 
Emma


I just moved in my apartment in January,and I really need to know how true it is about the thermostat being set at 78 and not 72.
I don’t want my electric bill higher than my rent.

 
Ashley


How much do electric bills usually run in a one bed one bath apartment….i am moving out for the first time and i am just wondering….i am gone most of the day if that makes any difference…

 
Karen


My friends jack the thermostat upand down as much as 8 points! I don’t notice till I feel like I’m freezing or cooking!! Any suggestions - talking has not worked so far…

 
dorrie


Hint…Dress in layers inside also and don’t forget a hat.

 
James Bond


I just think that all of you are retarded when it comes to housing costs!

 
Amanda


From experience setting the thermostat to 68 (I believe the 78 is a typo) instead of 72 saves me almost $20 a month in the winter.

 
Lisa


No typos in this article. Please read carefully!

“When it is warm outside, the cooler you have your thermostat set, the more energy it takes to run it. If you keep it set higher (less cool) inside, you don’t use as much energy, thus, saving money.

It’s just the opposite for cooler weather.”

 
Denise


whoever wrote this obviously doesn’t live in the southern states, if you set the thermostat to 78 in warm weather, you’ll cook!

 
Jess


Denise, this is about saving money, try using a fan instead of the air conditioning

 
Mr. Energy Saver


The best thing to do in the winter is only use your heater when you home, if really needed. Set Temp to 68. If you live the the south (like me) you can turn your heater off when you go to bed and used your blankets. An electric blanket saves you money by heating you up instead of the whole house.

In summer, set your air temp to 72 when your home and 74 when your gone. The house will stay cool. Leave it on, the more you turn it off and “play with the thermostat the move your bill will be. Have an energy saving Day!

 
duane


I am fully aware NOW! of the importance of conserving energy due to the fact that i at one point and time use to adjust my air conditioner to come on a half hour everyday in the summer months before i would come in from work, thats when i began to notice that my electric bills for 3 months in comparison to the winter months were unbeleivably outragous. I learned how to (I.A.O.) improvise,adapt & overcome. Conserve !!!

 
nicole


Why set your therostat at 78 instead of 72, how will this save me money?

 
Obvious


Re: setting the thermostat to 78, not 72

Look at the section this advice falls under. “Staying Cool.” Obviously, this means that keeping your house warmer in the summer will save you money.

P.S. I live in the South. My thermostat is set on 78. I manage to be quite comfortable.

 
Ariel Huey


I heard that even having electronic appliances plugged up that you are not using still use electricity. So if you unplug those things it should save you money too.

 
rintrah


In the summer, if the thermostat is set to 78 then the Air Conditioner will not come on for another 6 degrees. This saves money.

Sarah


This is aparently only for people with central air conditioning. I just turn my heat completly off during the summer.

 
 
stephanie


to those who keep asking about the thermostat temps..

personally I turn off the heater completely in the summer months, I do not have a/c.. I h ave a nice breeze where I live, open all the windows, and use fans. Looking at the temp of my house, its at a steady 78. with the breeze coming in it feels so much cooler.

 
boboe


the only time your thermostat runs is when it has to cool it down a degree… so if you have it set at 72 and your houde is properly insulated then you won’t have to set it at 78. it doesn’t get warmer any faster.

 
Kaps


I don’t think this article is going to help very many people, not because its not true but because they cant read. Holy crap, try reading the whole thing, apply some comment sense, and don’t post until you do.

 
Gerry


Here’s another tip. If nobody is gonna stay in home during the day, (like everybody is at school or at work) you can also disconnect all appliances, like TVs, VCRs, Printers, Fax Machines, Computers, etc that are supposed to be off. You think they don’t use energy cause they are turned off, but reality is that they still do. You can knock off another 20 to 50 bucks per month. I did all these tips and I dropped my electric bill two months ago from 170 down to 30.

 
doug


omg.. either you people are just smart enough to breath or you cant read… you ask the same questions as answered above… 50 times… pay attention! and read the tips.. they do work… electric blanket saves about %50 or a heating bill and compact florecense lights more than %50…

 
ann


still makes no sense to put at 78 that is hot to me
I always run on 70 anything warmer it is hot in my home

 
mick/GUITARGANGSTER


I DO Not Mind The Heat Most of the times as long as it’s dry heat ,it’s the very cold that hurts my bones.I Lived in AZ. with a band ,and we never used the heat or the AC. And I LIVED ON A BOAT YEARS AGO WITH EVEN NO Hot water,or just put hot water heater on 20 minutes,then turned it off,and mic. my food,and keeped warmed from te heat from my guitar, amp.and 1 gallon for 12 hours a karocene heater,dryed,pants,shirts,etc.and heat up things like for tea on the heater.HELLO ANYONE OUT THERE!AND I LIVED ON A HOUSEBARGE IN NYC.Anyone out there want to have a roomate!Cause I AM IN NEED GOOD FREINDS, AND TRUSTING, AS WELL!

 
 

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