The post Can You Make an Apartment More Energy Efficient? appeared first on Carrington at Barker Cypress Blog.
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Residents of Cypress, Texas apartments are used to seeing their electric bills go up during the hot summers and cold winters. This doesn't mean these costs are out of your control, though. There are a few small steps you can take to make your apartment more energy efficient.
Hang Curtains
Curtains aren't just for decoration. Even if you're happy with the privacy and lighting levels provided by your built-in blinds, curtains can help boost your energy efficiency.
Curtains provide an extra layer of insulation between your air-conditioned air and the uncomfortable outside temperatures. For maximum effectiveness, they should hang all the way to the floor.
Notify Your Maintenance Staff of Any Drafts
Tiny gaps in the weatherstripping around your doors and windows can allow enough outside air in to be almost as bad as running your air conditioner with the windows open. Our team works hard to keep your apartment in top shape, but some drafts are impossible to notice unless you're sitting in just the right place when the wind hits the window just right. Let us know if you experience any drafts so we can get them sealed.
Use Energy-Efficient Light Bulbs
When you buy new light bulbs, don't shop on price alone. Newer bulbs are designed to give off less heat and use less energy. By upgrading to an energy efficient bulb, you might pay a little extra now, but you'll save much more on your electric bills.
Skip Space Heaters
Some people like to use space heaters during the winter. They think using these small units to heat up one room is much better than heating their entire apartment with the central HVAC system.
In reality, space heaters are so inefficient that they usually cost more than just running your main heat. In addition, you're creating a potential fire hazard.
Watch Your Furniture Placement
Make sure your furniture isn't blocking any air vents either for output or intake. This includes both physical obstructions of the actual vent and blocking air flow. Good air circulation helps your AC to run more efficiently.
You're not on your own to improve your energy efficiency. Ask us about our energy-efficient appliances and other money-saving features.
The post Can You Make an Apartment More Energy Efficient? appeared first on Carrington at Barker Cypress Blog.
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With all of the new grocery delivery services serving Cypress, TX apartments, it's hard to ignore the convenience. But is the easiest way of getting groceries good for your wallet? Here's what you need to think about.
Costs of Grocery Delivery
There are several ways grocery delivery services make money.
- Monthly or annual membership fees.
- Delivery fees.
- Higher prices on food items.
- Driver pay covered by tips.
Many services charge multiple fees. For example, you might need to buy a $50 annual membership, pay $5 per delivery, pay 25% more than store prices on what you order, and tip the driver $10. Of course, this is a worst-case scenario, and you may be able to find better deals — especially as competition increases.
Costs of Going to the Store
Going to the grocery store isn't free. You're not just spending $10 to pick up a few things you forgot for dinner. You're spending your gas and time. Even if a grocery trip only takes a gallon of gas, that's almost a delivery fee.
You also need to think about the way you shop. Do you keep going to the store every time you need something? If so, that could cost more than ordering because ordering online requires you to plan ahead instead of making multiple trips, and you're less likely to buy impulse items.
Other Things to Think About
You should also think about your life in general and how grocery delivery fits in. If you don't work a traditional nine-to-five job, it's very easy to get in and out of the grocery store on a weekday morning after rush hour dies down.
If your only option is going to the store after work during the afternoon rush, you get stuck fighting rush hour traffic and dealing with the thousands of other people who can only shop at that time. In addition to the inconvenience, this could make it more likely that you'll feel like spending money on eating out or picking up takeout instead of cooking at home.
To learn more about the grocery options near our apartments, call our office today.
The post Does Grocery Delivery Ever Come Out Cheaper? appeared first on Carrington at Barker Cypress Blog.
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