Category Archives: Energy Saving Tips For Tenants

What You Should Know Before You Buy a Fireplace – Tips for Buying Fireplaces

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What You Should Know Before You Buy a Fireplace – Tips for Buying Fireplaces

Article by Gen Wright









A good fireplace will provide you with lots of warmth and comfort. Before buying a fireplace, make sure that you spend a little time doing some research. There are many different types of products in the marketplace, and you want to be sure that you make the right buying decision. Here are some factors to consider before investing your hard earned money.

Temporary or permanent use.

Know in advance whether you want to use the fireplace on a temporary or permanent basis. For instance, if you stay in a rented apartment, you may need a temporary solution. In this case, you may not want to install a permanent fireplace in the apartment. You may even check with your landlord and see if he is willing to install one for the benefit of all future tenants. If he is a good landlord, he may try to meet your requests. You end up having the use of a fireplace without spending a dime!

Know the specific amount of heat that is required.

The heating area influences your buying decision. Generally speaking, to heat up a larger area, you need a bigger fireplace. The bigger (or more powerful) the product, the higher the price. So always try to buy a fireplace that is of the right size – i.e. just big enough to heat up the area where you will be conducting your activities. You will save more energy.

Indoor or outdoor use.

When the weather turns cold, most homeowners know that they need a fireplace in the house. But they forget all about the outdoors. So they realize, a little too late, that they can’t stay outside when there is a cold spell. With an outdoor fireplace in place, the homeowner or even the entire family can stay outdoors once in a while. For example, having some heat in the backyard means that the children will be able to have some play time there even when the weather is cold. So try thinking about your lifestyle. What would you be doing indoors and outdoors when heat is not readily available?

Traditional or modern design.

Traditional fireplaces are heating devices that require burning fuel and has a real fire burning. This means there is a possibility that the house will be messed up a little by the smoke generated by the fire. In addition, there is always residues remaining after the fire burns out. But in this day and age, who has all the time to clean the home and clear up the mess for the sake of having heat in the home!

It is, in fact, possible to have heat in the home without having a real fire burning. Modern fireplaces can do that. The heat is generated by electricity and the fire is not real. It is a simulated fire, and it’s sole purpose is to create a illusion that a real fire is burning in the house.

So you see, there are tons of options available. Therefore, don’t make a rash buying decision. Know your needs, shop around, before buying a brand new fireplace.



About the Author

Buy Fireplaces and Fireplace Accessories or learn more about Outdoor Fireplaces










Tips For Moving Home: Finding the Right Energy Supplier

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Tips For Moving Home: Finding the Right Energy Supplier

Article by Adam Singleton









Moving house is high on the list of most stressful activities that can be undertaken. So, anything that can be done to reduce the anxiety levels and smooth the process in the run up to the move will help.

One thing that certainly needs to be arranged is your choice of domestic gas and electricity supplier at your new home. Thankfully, the research homework can be completed ahead of the switch. A major reason why you should complete this exercise if you use the internet for your research is that it can take up to 10 days to be reconnected to broadband at a new residence, even if you are moving just down the road. So, as the internet will most likely be out of action for quite a while following your move, take a tip and get it done before you leave your old property.

The starting point is to establish which companies supply gas and electricity to your new property. You should be able to find out that information from the existing owner or tenant. Then you can compare the incumbent supplier’s tariffs against those of your current supplier.

The energy supplier you choose and which of their tariffs you opt for will depend upon what is most important to you and your family circumstances. For example, if you are moving to a bigger house you may need to switch tariff to get a better deal. Or if you are downsizing there may be a more appropriate tariff for your revised needs. Certain gas suppliers offer a guarantee that prices will be pegged at an agreed tariff for a fixed period – that type of arrangement may be preferable to you, especially if you are on a budget, as you will be able to plan your expenditure more effectively – but there are also other tariffs that are better suited to some people.

Most energy providers that supply both gas and electricity to domestic premises will also offer a dual-fuel discount to customers, giving a further saving on the individual tariffs. However, you may prefer to ensure that you are not reliant on one company for supplies of both, so separate electricity and gas suppliers may be more tempting to you.

Only you will be able to decide which utility company and tariff are most suitable to your circumstances, but there are comparison websites that you can use to help make up your mind, as well as the individual websites of the power suppliers. But, if you want a smoother house moving experience, do your research well ahead of the day of the move!



About the Author

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.










Top Tips for a Healthy Boiler

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Top Tips for a Healthy Boiler

Article by Adam Singleton









A broken down boiler can cause havoc in the home; no hot water or heating and expensive emergency call out charges can make life miserable so it pays to keep your boiler in tip-top condition.

Having your boiler serviced regularly is one of the best ways to reduce the risk of breakdown. An annual service can keep your boiler ticking over nicely and can also save you around 15% off your household energy bills.

There are several organisations you can contact in order to book a gas service and in the United Kingdom, some of the main energy suppliers offer competitive prices. You can even book your boiler service online with some companies so you can organise everything in your own time at the click of a button.

You can also protect your home against sudden problems that can hit the pocket hard by opting for an annual gas boiler cover or central heating cover.

You may also find that gas engineers can service other gas appliances such as gas fires, gas water heaters and gas wall heaters so you can make sure all the gas operated items in your home are safe and sound.

If you are a landlord, remember it is your responsibility to carry out gas safety inspections and provide a copy of the gas safety certificate for your tenants.

It is also possible to keep boiler problems at bay with a spot of preventative action. Bleeding your radiators can help to keep unwanted air out of the system and reduce the risk of future problems. Bleeding your radiator simply means releasing the trapped air and is a simple task that can be carried out in a few seconds.

To bleed your system you should first of all switch off the heating. Next you should locate the bleed valve; this is usually a square shaped valve which can generally be found on one side of the radiator near the top.

You need a radiator key to open the valve. When the valve is open you will be able to hear air escaping. When water begins to dribble out this means all the air has escaped and you can tighten the valve again.

To keep your boiler happy make sure the air vents and external flues aren’t blocked. You should also run your central heating at least once a month, even in summer, to keep everything ticking over and to clear the boiler pump of any grit or sludge that tends to gather when it’s not in use.

To be absolutely sure your boiler is being checked over by experts you should always use a Gas Safe registered engineer. The Gas Safe Register replaced CORGI as the register for gas installers on 1 April 2009 and is a legal requirement for any one working with gas. Using a fully qualified and approved engineer gives you complete peace of mind that your boiler is in safe hands.

For added safety you could fit a carbon monoxide detector in addition to organising annual gas boiler servicing.



About the Author

Adam Singleton writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.










Essential and Effective Tips for Apartments for Rent

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Essential and Effective Tips for Apartments for Rent

Article by For Lease









It is a general tendency of a human being to be extra cautious or vigilant not only while investing, or planning to make an investment, but also while one is looking for a apartments for rent or lease, just because looks good in black and white, in reality it may be altogether a different story. A family of four seeking apartments for rent or lease would face an obvious dilemma about the topography, availability of nearby schools, hospitals, gas station and many vital factors. The other way out for home hunter is to browse the internet, meet acquaintances or the experience people who has the knowledge of this matter or find by searching apartments for rent in the database.

It has been universally accepted all over the world that investment is property is bound to be a profitable venture for both buyers as well as sellers, since there is a vast properties for rent and also new avenue coming up at a brisk rate. Lease by owner is the easy, simple and very effective procedure where landlord appoints a representative who will act neutrally between the tenant and the owner, who also looks after the bills proceedings, oversee the entire maintenance of the home, and most importantly he has to see that the good relationship and goodwill remains intact between the owner and the tenant. Or the most feasible way is to keep direct touch with owner regarding the maintenance or repairs, overdue bills, transfer of names and many other vital things.

There are certain real estate agencies who are called listing providers who can help your search for apartments for rent in the shortest period of time, these estate agencies provides important information hints on various locations, easy accessasibility to the modes of transport, round the clock services of plumbers, electricians or any important personnel related to the maintenance and repairs fields, the most vital part played by the estate agent is to make final deal between the owner and hunter, for which he is given a commission which is usually certain percentage of the total amount of the deal, or the tenant who has occupied for i.e. eleven months, a year or so, he will charged one rent from both the parties.

It is also a wise thing to opt for the rental apartments after deciding whether it suits the quality of a person his nature, habits, his way of life and many other things. Although apartments for lease are by and large occupied by couples or big families, some may prefer moving into more comfortable and spacious place, tourist and students find these apartments for rent cheap and affordable as it saves their time, money and energy from travelling to and fro.



About the Author

Search for houses and apartments for rent in San Jose, CA. Find apartment rentals in San Jose, view San Jose California listings of rental homes, list apartments for rent, homes for lease and find homes available for rent in San Jose, CA.










Sharing Money Saving Tips Through Your Residential Facility Maintenance Team

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Sharing Money Saving Tips Through Your Residential Facility Maintenance Team

Article by Chris Harmen









Energy costs are on the rise, and even if your tenants are paying for their own utility usage, these expenses can still affect a property manager’s bottom line. In order to help keep building repair costs down, many residential facility maintenance managers will include money saving tips in a monthly newsletter to tenants. While the residents appreciate the reminder on how to lower their electricity, water, and gas bills, the same efforts improve the efficiency and lifespan of HVAC units, plumbing, and electrical setups.

Recommend Non-Peak Usage – Lower Building Repair Requests

Some municipalities lower energy costs for using major services at off-peak times. Recommending that tenants do their laundry, run their dishwasher, or do other high utility-usage activities at off-peak times (such as after 7pm or before 7am) means less wear and tear on major systems. Fewer breakdowns mean that residential facility maintenance crews can be more efficient, and residents will be happier, reducing tenant turnover. Whoever pays the electricity and water bills will also be pleased, as the bills should decrease with consistent off-peak usage.

Installing Digital Thermostats Is Beneficial To Residential Facility Maintenance Teams

It may seem like an outpouring of capital to install a digital thermostat in every unit, but the ability to program both time and temperatures can save hundreds (and sometimes thousands) of dollars each year. Building repair frequency should decrease, as HVAC units won’t be running for hours on end, which can happen on non-digitally controlled systems. Residents can also program these thermostats (with the help of residential facility maintenance team members, if needed) so that their apartment or unit isn’t working to heat or cool the space when they aren’t going to be home. Overall energy usage decreases, and less maintenance needs to be done on systems due to lower usage.

Remind Tenants To Call When A Building Repair Is Needed

Some tenants will wait to call a residential facility maintenance member until they have several issues built up. At times, this means their frustration level is also increased. If a team member arrives intending to do one building repair, but is then asked to do several more tasks, it can lead to an interruption in providing excellent customer service. The delay ends up offsetting the rest of the facility maintenance team’s time, and results in more than one disgruntled tenant. Reminding residents to call right away keeps incidents spread out and under control.

Litter Control Helps Residential Facility Maintenance Teams

When residents keep litter controlled, they not only allow building repair teams to focus on resolving tenant complaints, but they also take more pride in the property. Tenants often need to be reminded of proper garbage and recycling procedures, including trash pickup days. Parking lots are often seen with small pieces of litter strewn around. Asking tenants to take pride in where they live and making it a better community for all by not littering can go a long way.

Regularly sharing money saving tips with your tenants will help lower residential facility maintenance expenses. It will also lead to happier tenants, fewer turnovers and lower overall costs.



About the Author

Chris Harmen is a writer for Tru-Serve, a residential facility maintenance company that provides professional building repair services throughout the Twin cities (Minneapolis, MN and St. Paul, MN.)










Essential Winter Tips For Your Home

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Essential Winter Tips For Your Home

Article by Paul Sherrington









According to government statistics, over eighty per cent of all energy used within the home is used on heating it. Here we look at ways to save money and reducing fuel bills in the process.

According to government statistics, over eighty per cent of all energy used within the home is used on heating it. With recent energy price hikes – and indeed with more predicted – and as we descend into winter and the days turn colder, many people will find themselves searching for ways in which they can keep themselves warm – whilst desperately trying to save money by reducing fuel bills in the process! Indeed, there are many essential winter tips you can use in your home to help you save money this year during the cold season.

The top essential winter tip for your home that will cut energy bills has to be having good insulation. Not only will having a well insulated home save you money on fuel bills – perhaps up to two hundred pounds a year – but a well insulated and energy efficient home is also key to fighting climate change. In line with government goals for cutting carbon emissions there are even government grants available for help towards installing good insulation to your home – such as cavity wall insulation and loft insulation. Steps taken to reduce heat escaping can make a dramatic difference to how warm your house feels, how much you spend on heating your home, your carbon emissions and ultimately, your fuel bills.

You can also take smaller steps towards reducing heat loss by installing draft excluder`s under doors and on letter boxes. Obviously a big step and expense, is installing double glazing – however double glazing can in fact cut in half the heat lost through windows. If you do not have double glazing, check around your windows to feel for draughts and try using draught excluding tape strips to stop warm air escaping.

You should also make sure that your radiators are bled – so they are working at maximum capacity and also that your boiler pressure is correct. Empower yourself when it comes to your heating and hot water and use timers! Some energy suppliers are even piloting schemes to allow you to control your heating remotely – so if you are going to be late in from work, you can delay the heating coming on! Also, turn your thermostat down a degree or two! You will probably not notice the difference – but cumulatively the difference will be great!

Landlords should also take advantage of government schemes that can help them to insulate properties they are renting. With the housing market still quite unpredictable making your property more appealing to tenants is essential! So if you can offer them rented accommodation that is fully insulated and will mean they have less to pay on fuel bills, then you will certainly attract customers!

Indeed, tenants should stand up for their rights this winter! So, whether you are looking for leases in London or letting agents in Durham, ask about the type of insulation that is installed in the property you will be renting! Also enquire about any energy saving devices that come with the property and do not forget to contact energy supply companies to ensure you have the best tariff available.



About the Author

Energylink ltd is a company that has arranged thousands full and partial grants for cavity wall and loft insulation to people throughout the UK. Grants are provided for all home-owners and private tenants, 100% full grants for the over 70′s and people on certain benefits, and 40% – 70% for others. Click here for a free short report answering all questions on cavity wall insulation.










EnerWatch Systems Offers Energy Saving Tips To Commercial Property Managers

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EnerWatch Systems Offers Energy Saving Tips To Commercial Property Managers

Article by REPEWS









EnerWatch Systems Offers Energy Saving Tips To Commercial Property ManagersAs a commercial property manager, one of the most important goals is keeping clients happy and the company’s revenue in check. During showings and build-outs (in low vacancy or unoccupied properties), gas and electric consumption per building jumps and you are paying for it. Realtors and reps adjust thermostats, but fail to reset them. Construction trades set thermostats too low or too high and leave doors and windows open all night. Tenants often pay little or no attention to smart energy use.During weather extremes, freezing temperatures burst water pipes in poorly heated facilities such as maintenance rooms, attics and above drop ceilings. Sweltering summer temperatures increase your chance of damage from humidity, mold and mildew.Companies such as Michigan-based EnerWatch™ Systems have developed new technologies to help managers precisely monitor gas and electric consumption and property owners absolute control over usage— even when not at the facility. Paying closer attention to unnecessary or poorly managed energy use can result in thousands of dollars in energy savings every year.According to company founder Dominic Pizzo, the first thing property managers and commercial property owners should consider is simply reminding their tenants to not forget the basics. This simple stuff will save energy — and money — right now. Unplug Unplug chargers when you’re not charging. Every building is full of little plastic power supplies to charge cell phones, PDA’s, digital cameras, cordless tools and other personal gadgets. Keep them unplugged until you need them. Use power strips to switch off televisions, computer equipment, and electronics when you’re not using them. Even when you think these products are off, together, their “standby” consumption can be equivalent to that of a 75 or 100 watt light bulb running continuously. Set Computers to Sleep and Hibernate Enable the “sleep mode” feature on your computer, allowing it to use less power during periods of inactivity. In Windows, the power management settings are found on your control panel. Mac users, look for energy saving settings under system preferences in the apple menu. Configure your computer to “hibernate” automatically after 30 minutes or so of inactivity. The “hibernate mode” turns the computer off in a way that doesn’t require you to reload everything when you switch it back on. Allowing your computer to hibernate saves energy and is more time-efficient than shutting down and restarting your computer from scratch. When you’re done for the day, shut down. Take Control of Temperature Set your thermostat in winter to 68 degrees or less during the daytime, and 55 degrees before leaving for the night. Use sunlight wisely. During the heating season, leave shades and blinds open on sunny days, but close them at night to reduce the amount of heat lost through windows. Close shades and blinds during the summer or when the air conditioner is in use or will be in use later in the day. Set the thermostat on your water heater between 120 and 130 degrees. Lower temperatures can save more energy, but you might run out of hot water or end up using extra electricity to boost the hot water temperature in your dishwasher. Turn Out the Lights Don’t forget to flick the switch when you leave a room. Remember this at the office, too. Turn out or dim the lights in unused conference rooms, and when you step out for lunch. Work by daylight when possible. A typical commercial building uses more energy for lighting than anything else.About EnerWatch SystemsEnerWatch Systems is an industry leader in real-time, web-based energy management/monitoring and visualization that enables building managers to reduce energy costs. The company institutes a remote proprietary monitoring system that gauges utility usage, temperature, humidity, air quality and more of commercial and residential properties. Headquartered in Sterling Heights, Mich., EnerWatch Systems also maintains offices in Sarasota, Fla., and Europe. For more information, visit http://www.enerwatchsystems.com, or call 866.442.4703.



About the Author

Dominic Pizzo is the president and founder of EnerWatch Systems, a company that is optimizing today’s technology to help sophisticated builders and property managers maintain greater control of their bottom line while improving customer satisfaction and referrals. Its innovative device, the EnerWatch Monitoring System™, controls gas and electric consumption on the job site, which translates into thousands of dollars in savings in energy use every year










Energy-saving Tips for Landlords and Tenants

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Energy-saving Tips for Landlords and Tenants

Article by Simon Macsis









Energy-saving Tips for Landlords and Tenants

As a landlord you’re probably extremely interested in increasing the returns on your investment. This guide gives you some simple tips which should enable you to save money, save energy and help save the planet. Plus, by following the suggestions it could mean reduced bills and warmer homes for your tenants.

From 1 October 2008, landlords are required to have an energy performance certificate. The certificate rates a property’s energy performance from A to G. Additionally it provides information regarding a property’s energy use and carbon dioxide emissions and includes a recommendation report with suggestions as to how you can reduce your energy use and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions.

???Did you Know???

If you make energy saving improvements to your buy-to-let property then as a landlord you may be entitled to a tax allowance called Landlord’s Energy Saving Allowance. Find out more at: http://www.hmrc.gov.uk

What you can do as a landlord

1. Exclude draughts o Doors – fit a brush or PVC seal to external doors.o Floorboards and skirting – fill gaps with beading or sealant.2. Insulation o Fit a jacket around your hot water tank, and ensure that lofts and wall cavities are insulated.3. Other o Switch to a high efficient condensing boiler.o Use appliances with the Energy Saving Recommended logo.o Fit double glazing.o Use energy saving light bulbs.o Fix leaking taps.

Encourage your tenants to go ‘green’

1. Kettles – only boil as much water as is needed.2. Reduce the temperature on the thermostat.3. Use a shower rather than a bath. Cut down on shower time. If the bath is used then use the water for watering plants.4. Turn off lights.5. Don’t leave appliances on standby.6. Make sure washing machines, dishwashers and tumble dryers are full before using them. Wash at 30