June 2020

What would you do with an extra $20 or $30 at the end of each month. Treat yourself to a nice dinner, buy supplies for your latest hobby, or maybe save it for a rainy day? Freeing up that extra cash isn’t hard if you’re careful about managing your utilities. Not only will it save you money – it’s good for the environment, too. Here are some easy ways to lower your utility bills.

 Air Conditioning

• Consider setting the temperature on your thermostat a degree or two higher. It can make a big difference in how often and how long your unit runs and you’ll barely notice the difference.
• All our thermostats are programmable. If you’re gone for a significant portion of the day, you program the temperature to be higher when you’re gone and cooled down again just before you return. If you need help programming yours, just contact the rental office at (585) 334-6870.
• Check the weather. If temps are going to cool down at night, turn off your AC and open the windows.
• Block out the sun. Close the blinds or curtains on the sunny side of your apartment. It will keep those rooms cooling, so your air conditioner runs less often.

Heating

• Just like your air conditioning in summer, consider turning your thermostat down a degree or two in winter. Also, make sure to use the programming function – especially at night. Program the thermostat to a low temperature when you’ll be snug in your bed, and then warm up again about a half-hour before you get up.
• Let in the sun. If it’s going to be a sunny day, open the blinds or curtains on sunny side of your apartment. It’s amazing how much warmth sunlight can create. It’s also good to close your window treatments at night because the add an extra layer of insulation from the cold over your windows.
• If you notice any drafts around windows or doors, fill out a maintenance request online so they can be fixed.

Electricity & Gas

• Unplug electronic devices when they are fully charged. Even though the device is charged, the charger continues to use energy.
• Remember to turn off lights when you’re not in a room or using them.
• Consider switching to LED light bulbs, which use significantly less electricity.
• Wash your clothes in cold water whenever possible.

Water

• Try to wait until you have a full load before running the dishwasher or doing laundry.
• Take shorter showers and don’t leave the water running while brushing your teeth or shaving.
• If any of your faucets leak, fill out a maintenance request online so they can be fixed.

Phone, Internet and Cable

• If you purchase more than one service (phone, internet and cable), bundle those services with a single provider to lower your rates.
• Internet can be purchased at different download speeds. Don’t pay for an expensive package unless you have a need for higher speeds, such as heavy streaming or video chat use.
• Consider getting rid of cable television service and just using streaming services. Most newer televisions can easily be connected to the internet and there are more options than ever – some are even free (like Pluto TV).