Apartment Winter

Cut down on electricity usage during the winter

What are some simple ways that property managers (and tenants) can cut down on electricity during the winter months?
Monday, December 9, 2013

There are many things that managers and tenants can do to reduce electricity consumption during the winter. The first step is for managers to inspect their property. They should be sure to seal any cracks or holes in the walls, ceiling, floors, windows and doors to keep drafts out.

Tenants should be reminded to take advantage of natural heat from the sun by opening curtains and blinds on sunny winter days, and closing them at night to keep the heat inside. All exhaust fans in kitchens and bathrooms should be checked to make sure that they are clean, free of dust and working efficiently. Refrigerator evaporator coils should be cleaned once per year, and doors should firmly seal when shut.

For water conservation, management should fix leaky faucets and toilets, and consider installing low-flow showerheads and low-flush toilets. A single leaky faucet can waste up to 200 litres of water a week.

Property managers should also use fluorescent tubes or compact fluorescent lamps (CFLs) throughout the building. CFLs are 75 to 80 per cent more efficient than incandescent bulbs, and last up to 10 times longer.

If maangers are purchasing new appliances or electronic equipment for the building, they should check the EnerGuide label on large items or the Energy Star ratings for electronics, home office products and small appliances. If purchasing new laundry equipment, managers should consider a front-loading model. These models use up to 40 per cent less water and 60 per cent less energy than top-loading machines.

And as always, managers should remind tenants to turn off lights, appliances and electrical equipment when they are not being used.

Paula Gasparro is the manager of business development, multi-unit mortgage insurance, at the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation.

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