Tips to help keep power costs low.
To some, cold weather means the onset
of winter, but for those students with apartments, it can also mean
a dramatic increase in energy costs.
Although sometimes taken for granted, utilities are not free. As the
temperature drops, many tenants will turn up their thermostats and
forget about the costs, at least until the bill arrives at the end
of the month.
Energy costs this winter are expected to rise yet again. However,
there are many ways to save while keeping the apartment warm. Scott
Kunkel of JSM Management knows many small steps students can take
to lower their bills.
The first step to saving on power, according to Kunkel, is to turn
the thermostat down to about 68 degrees during the winter.
"The easiest step is to adjust the thermostat," Kunkel said. "Try
to pick a temperature that you're comfortable at."
Commonwealth Edison suggests that the temperature in an apartment
should vary depending on the need for heat. According to ComEd, the
evenings and parts of the day when no one is around are great energy-saving
opportunities.
Along with lowering the temperature, there are still other ways to
save. For example, locked windows hold more heat in a room than unlocked
windows. Also, doors should remain closed and drapes should remain
open to keep the room warm without additional heat.
Although there are many safe ways to save on energy costs, there are
certain heating alternatives to stay away from. Tenants should not
use appliances such as stoves to heat a room. According to JSM management,
this sort of misuse will increase costs rather than decrease them.
Many students opt to use space heaters rather than the thermostat
to warm up their apartments. However, space heaters pose a threat
if not used correctly. According to the U.S. Fire Administration,
space heaters must be used correctly if they are used at all.
"Only buy heaters with the UL safety listing," said the USFA Web page.
"Check to make sure it has a thermostat-control mechanism and will
switch off automatically if the heater falls over, and always unplug
your electric space heater when not in use."
College students are never at a loss for creative ways to save money.
Shannon Koropchak, freshman in LAS, suggests wearing extra layers
of clothing instead of turning up the heat. Other various student
suggestions include eating hot food and setting small fires for warmth.
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