When seeking an apartment for rent, whether in Lake Jackson or any other place, remember to evaluate the energy efficiency of all your options. Energy bills you receive every month may vary according to your usage pattern, however, this is a fixed expense and will add to your renting costs. It is, therefore, imperative that you finalize a property that does not consume more energy that the prescribed limits. You can achieve this objective by evaluating a few factors. The blog looks at some of the factors to consider.
1. Is the building weatherized, with water saving devices?
Make sure the apartment you rent is weatherized and properly insulated to keep heating and cooling costs under control. Additionally, prefer houses that include energy-efficient natural gas water heaters over those that use electric water heaters. Last but not least, make sure that showers have low-flow showerheads as they help save water and energy.
2. What heating systems does the apartment use?
The electricity that the building’s heating systems use to maintain optimum living conditions in the house constitute a substantial percentage of the total energy consumption, and has a significant impact on the final costs. It is, therefore, imperative to ensure that the heating system in the apartment of your choice minimizes wastage as much as possible. A few energy efficient heating options that you can consider are forced air, hot water or steam, and residential heat pumps. On the flip side, avoid renting accommodation that uses electric baseboards as they’re expensive to run.
3. What is the thermostat's efficacy?
The thermostat for any building is the heater’s central control system and regulates the heating needed to manage the apartment’s temperature. Make sure the thermostat registers accurate temperature in the rooms and signals the heater to restart once the temperature dips below the prescribed limits. Remember, inefficient thermostats are one of the major reasons behind escalating energy bills Last but not least, make sure there are multiple thermostats located within the apartment.
4. What is the state of appliances?
While taking a tour of the apartment, make sure that all appliances furnished by the owner function flawlessly. Additionally, prefer renting an apartment that features gas dryers and ranges, as they are more affordable than electrical appliances. It is also advisable to go for an apartment that consists of top or bottom freezer refrigerator /auto defrost refrigerators models that are more cost effective as compared to side-by-side refrigerators.
Summing up
Apart from evaluating the criteria discussed above, make sure to get a rough idea of the amount of money that you can expect to pay towards electricity and gas expenses. You can achieve this objective by visiting sites such as mge.com where you can get average monthly utility costs and information on highest and lowest utility costs for apartments of your choice. Additionally, you can go through tenant reviews for the apartments according to your location. You can use relevant location-specific keywords to refine your search. For example, if you’re a resident of Lake Jackson, a few relevant search terms are ‘apartments in Lake Jackson TX for rent’, ‘apartments for rent in Lake Jackson’, and ‘houses and homes for rent in Lake Jackson’. Happy apartment hunting.
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