Finding your perfect apartment is hard, but nothing's worse than getting settled in and getting hit with a massive electricity bill. While it is necessary for life, we use it almost every hour of the day and the cost of that can add up quickly.
Luckily, there are simple ways to substantially lower your bill each month that can be implemented at any time. Here are some tips we recommend if you want to cut down your electric costs:
When it comes to unplugging your appliances, we’re not talking about your fridge. What we’re recommending is to unplug small appliances like toasters, coffee makers, and phone chargers when not in use. These kinds of devices draw power even when you're not using them.
Something that can be helpful is plugging these items into a power strip or surge protector. Doing this allows you to easily switch everything on or off when needed since outlets can be occasionally located in inconvenient spots. Another way to prevent these items from using extra electricity is by unplugging them when you know you will be away from your apartment for a longer period of time, like if you are going on vacation.
Lighting has the potential to consume the most electricity in your apartment, so using efficient light bulbs is key. LED bulbs use about 10% of the power that incandescent bulbs use, which will save you a lot of money in the long run. There are many different types of LED lights to fit any fixture or style.
Furthermore,
LED lights are also better for the environment in general. Because they draw so much less power than incandescent lights, the demand from power plants decreases which leads to a decrease in greenhouse gas emissions!
AC usage can also increase your bill, especially in the summertime, but when the weather is nice, opening your windows is a great option. Your HVAC deserves a break once in a while and you deserve to save some money.
If opening your windows is not an option, closing blinds or curtains can be a big help when it comes to keeping your apartment at your desired temperature. Direct sunlight can greatly increase the indoor temperature so being able to block that out can also help.
We take back what we said earlier: there is something else that's worse than receiving a high energy bill– receiving multiple high utility bills. Fortunately, in most of our units we can cover all of those other utilities like heat, internet, water, and trash, and you only have to pay for electricity.
Hunziker Property Management has been serving the Ames community for over 60 years and would love to help you find your perfect home. If you are ready to start your search,
explore our available properties or
contact us today!