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Palm Beach condos are already remarkably energy efficient, with many buildings equipped with Energy Star-rated appliances and insulated windows that keep condos cooler. However, there’s still much more you can do stretch your energy savings in Palm Beach and Boynton Beach condos. Here are the top ten tips to take a bite out of your energy bill:
1. Keep it cool.
Refrigerators use the most energy of all your appliances. Keep energy use down by: Keeping the fresh food compartment at 37º-40º F and the freezer compartment at 0º-5º F. While most condos for sale in Palm Beach County have refrigerator/freezers that automatically defrost, regularly defrost refrigerators and freezers that have a manual defrost function.
2. Change your A/C filter
To keep your air conditioner running at peak efficiency, change your air filter every month. This keeps the air flowing without restriction. If you have pets, you may need to change it more often.
3. Check your water temperature
Your water heater should not be higher than 120º F. If it’s hotter than this, you’re spending more energy than you need for hot water, and it’s a burn hazard for children and seniors. You can check your water temperature using a standard meat thermometer. Just hold it under the running water from your sink. If you have access to the water heater from inside your condo, you can lower the temperature yourself, or have your condo maintenance service take care of it.
4. Wash in cool water.
The washing machine is one of the biggest energy hogs in Palm Beach condos. What people don’t realize is that cold washes are generally just effective as effective in getting clothes clean as hot water. Switching from hot wash to cold, can shave up to $215 per year off your electric bill. Even if you use warm water wash, you can still save by using a cold-water rinse.
5. Only wash full loads
It takes the same amount of energy to wash a small load as it does a full load, so make sure that you only use your washing machine when you have enough clothes to run a full load.
6. Saving water in the bathroom
Most new condominiums already have low-flow toilets installed, but if not, consider making the switch. A low-flow showerhead can also reduce hot water use and save money.
7. Install ceiling fans
If your condo doesn’t already have ceiling fans, consider installing them, as they can really cut down on cooling and heating bills. There are plenty of styles available to fit pretty much any décor.
8. Install compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs
Increasing your lighting efficiency is one of the fastest ways to decrease your energy bills. If you replace 25% of your lights in high-use areas with compact fluorescents, you can save about 50% of your lighting energy bill.
9. Use energy-efficient settings on all your appliances
So many appliances are “green-friendly,” with settings that are designed to use the minimum amount of energy. Check your appliances. You’ll probably find energy-saving settings on your washing machine, clothes dryers, dishwasher, refrigerator, water heater, and computer.
10. Turn off the lights when you leave a room
This is probably the simplest tip, but one that really works! Make it a habit to turn off lights as you leave the room, and use a programmable thermostat to make sure that your cooling and heating temps correspond to when you’re home.
