How to Save Energy (and Money) When Renting an Apartment

Lighting

The first tip on our list is a no-brainer - turn off the lights in your apartment when they aren't in use. When they are in use, try using compact fluorescent lights instead of regular incandescent light bulbs. While they are more expensive, fluorescent bulbs will pay for themselves many times over in the long run, as they consume about a quarter of the power and last up to 10 times longer than regular bulbs.

Heating and Cooling

It's much more cost-efficient to use a fan during the summer months instead of an air conditioner. However, if you absolutely have to use an air conditioner (for medical reasons such as asthma, etc.), try to keep it on a lower setting and at a slightly higher temperature. Don't forget to turn off your A/C when leaving the apartment - most window units cool the apartment very quickly, so there's no need to keep them running while you're away. You can reduce your need to crank up the air conditioner by using window shades that reduce the amount of heat coming into your apartment - this is particularly useful if your apartment has windows that receive direct sunlight.

Hydro bills tend to skyrocket in the winter, as most apartment rentals use some form of electric heating. Portable and baseboard electric heaters consume a ton of energy, but by setting the overall temperature in your apartment a couple of degrees lower during the winter, you'll end up saving quite a bit of money in the long run.

Don't forget, heating also includes the amount of hot water used in your apartment. To cut back on the energy used in this area, install an energy-efficient showerhead in the bathroom. Some landlords will even install one for you - all you have to do is ask!

Furniture and Electronics

First, you need to arrange your apartment furniture in a way that doesn't block or obstruct any heat vents, radiators or baseboard heaters. You'll also have to make sure your drapes or curtains don't fall onto or in front of the baseboards - not only will they block the heat from entering your apartment, but it's a fire hazard too! If the heat sources in your apartment are blocked, you'll probably end up raising the thermostat even higher to try to generate more heat, which will only lead to more energy consumed.

Computers and other electronics, particularly laser printers, can really run up your hydro bills. While the computer itself doesn't really use a lot of energy, keeping it powered-up 24/7 will have an impact on your wallet in the long run. Make the most of your computer's energy-saving settings, which can automatically turn off your monitor and shut down your hard drive if they are not in use for a certain period of time. If you are leaving your computer for just a few hours you should put into “sleep mode", which uses significantly less power but still allows it to boot up quickly when you return.

Cooking and Storing Your Food

When you're cooking in your apartment, try to minimize the number of times you have to open the door to examine your food. All of the heat that escapes from your oven when you open the door is energy lost - energy that will still show up on your bill at the end of the month. Also remember to match the size of any pots or skillets you use on the stovetop elements. There's no need to use the energy required to heat up the largest element when you're only using the smallest pot in the kitchen. You can also reduce your cooking times by thawing frozen foods in the refrigerator beforehand.

Speaking of the refrigerator, there's no need to store your food at the coldest temperature possible - doing so only wastes power, as your food will still remain safe to eat if it's stored at a warmer (but still cool) temperature. As well, remember not to overcrowd the fridge and freezer. The doors must close snugly and form a tight seal, or else warm air will creep in and force the fridge to work harder and use more energy to keep your food cool.

By following the handy tips listed above, you can save big-time money on the amount of utilities you pay each month for your apartment for rent - giving you more cash in your wallet to spend on the other things in your life.

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How to Reduce Noise Levels in Your Apartment

Carpeting and Rugs

The more items you have in your apartment that can absorb and soak up sound, the better. Carpets do a surprisingly good job of absorbing sound in the home (instead of reflecting sound, like hardwood floors). But what if your apartment isn't carpeted? Simple - use rugs. The more throw rugs and area rugs you have around your apartment, and the larger and heavier they are, the more noise they will absorb.

Wall-Hangings and Curtains

Sure, carpets work if it's the tenants below your apartment that are making all the noise. If it's the people beside you that you have to worry about, try putting up a few wall-hangings, curtains or tapestries on the side of the apartment that the noise is coming from. These can make a big impact on reducing the amount of noise in your apartment, while also adding a little bit of style to your home at the same time. Curtains or drapes are useful in reducing noise wherever they are located, whether it's on a wall, over a window (to block out exterior noises) or simply placed across an open space in the apartment.

Special soundproof wall-hangings, ceiling panels and room dividers, all of which are made of materials that are specifically designed to block out sound, can also be purchased at specialty shops.

Appropriate Noise Levels - It's a Two-Way Street

The techniques listed above are excellent suggestions - but they wouldn't even be necessary if you, your neighbours and everybody else in your apartment building were slightly more aware of the apartment you're living in and the effect noise has on all of the tenants living there. You can be a more considerate neighbour by following by these common-sense tips:

· Place your stereos and audio equipment away from the walls that are shared with other apartment units;

· Avoid walking in high heel and hard-soled shoes, especially in apartments for rent with tiled or hardwood floors, as the sound will reverberate throughout your unit and the ones beside you;

· Use carpets or mats in areas where objects such as shoes and kitchen utensils are more likely to fall or be dropped;

· Place felt cushions under chair and table legs to prevent them from noisily scraping across the floor;

· Keep the volume of your computer and TV at reasonable levels, especially late at night. As well, don't wait until late at night to get started on your other noisy activities such as vacuuming, repairs and moving heavy furniture.

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7 Tips to Make Your Move into a New Apartment Easier

Be Organized

A move isn't something you can simply prepare for over a weekend. Always plan ahead and never, ever, start packing the day before, as you'll find that you have a lot more stuff than you initially thought. Make sure all of your boxes are labelled appropriately - it will save you a lot of hassle when you're unpacking if you know what box goes in what room.

Donate Your Old Junk

In the process of packing, you might discover that you no longer need, like, or have room for old clothes, furniture and knick-knacks. Don't toss that stuff away, though - donate it to a worthy cause, such as Goodwill, the Salvation Army or the Canadian Diabetes Association. It's a win-win situation - you'll have fewer things to haul over to your new apartment and you get to help a charitable organization in the process. Plus, you might get a receipt for your donation, which you can use to lower the amount of taxable income you have to claim on your next tax return.

Van and Truck Rentals

A nice, empty apartment awaits you, but there's just one problem - you still have to get all of your stuff over there. Unless you have friends or family with large vans or trucks who are willing to help out, chances are you're going to have to rent one from a company such as U-Haul. Demand for these vehicles is always high, especially between April and October, so it's always a good idea to book out a van or truck several weeks in advance. Wait until the last minute and you might discover they don't have any trucks available, and if they do, they might not be available during the time you had hoped to make the move.

Get Some Help

Ideally, you should recruit a personal army of friends and family to help you move, as the only cost you'll have to pay might be pitching in for a pizza after everything is done. However, what do you do if all of your friends are busy or out of town? Unless your idea of a fun weekend is hauling box after box into your new apartment all by yourself, perhaps it's best to hire the services of a moving company. Whether you need them to do the entire move for you, or you just need them to help you load up the truck, a moving company has well-trained staff and all of the necessary equipment that will keep your valuables intact and make your move fast and hassle-free. Be sure to check the insurance policies of the moving company you hire - some offer different levels of coverage than others. You may want to invest in some form of moving insurance, especially if you have lots of rare and breakable items that could get damaged during a move.

Hold That Elevator!

Regardless of what floor you're moving into to, getting all of your items up to your new apartment - especially those big pieces of furniture - isn't going to be easy. Luckily, most apartments have large service elevators that can be used specifically for this purpose. However, during the busy times of the year, a lot of people are going to want to use those elevators at the same time. That's why it's wise to get those elevators booked in your name as far in advance as possible - some apartments will let you reserve an elevator a few months in advance. If you don't, it might be a long night of waiting in the apartment lobby, waiting for an elevator to be free. Be sure to always check with the apartment manager to see when you can use the elevators, as some buildings have restrictions about what times of the day the service elevator can actually be used. Get all of the information you can, as far in advance as you can, and plan your move accordingly.

Forward Your Mail

Try as you might, there's bound to be somebody that you forgot to tell about your change of address. Luckily, you can register your change of address with Canada Post, and for a small fee ($36 for six months), they can redirect any mail sent to your old address to your new one. That will give you plenty of time to make sure all of your contacts are up-to-date regarding your whereabouts without having to worry about whether an important package will arrive at your new place or on the other side of town.

Transfer Your Services

Apart from your mail, it's important to have any monthly services, such as existing cable, phone, Internet, gas and hydro accounts, transferred over to your new address (or cancelled at your old place, if you won't need them anymore). This can be extremely important, especially if you're the type that depends on things such as the Internet for work or school.

These tips should help your move go as smoothly as possible - but like anything in life, you should always expect for the unexpected. But as long you've prepared as much as you can in advance, you should be resting comfortably in your new apartment.

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