Landlords face the challenge each summer of keeping tenants cool without astronomical energy bills.
Programmable Thermostats
Programmable thermostats are one option in keeping energy costs under control. Now, these devices have gone mobile.
Using a smart phone or computer, a tenant can ‘phone home’ and adjust the air in case they are stuck late at the office, decide to go out after work, or realize they forgot to do it before they left the apartment.
For example, Trane has come out with the ComfortLink™ Remote Thermostat which allows users to activate the energy savings mode from anywhere in the world. Users can opt to receive texts alerting when it’s time to change the filter, schedule annual maintenance, or when the system is not holding the set temperature.
Keeping energy consumption low helps cuts costs for landlords who pay utilities. For tenants who pay their own way, it avoids that behemoth bill they didn’t plan for that puts them behind on the rent. Energy-saving tools are good leasing incentives, save unnecessary wear and tear on expensive appliances, and may even qualify for rebates offered by strapped utility companies offering incentives to those who agree to cycle off the grid for part of the day.
Attic Fans
In summer, temperatures in an unventilated attic can exceed 160 degrees F. A properly sized attic ventilation system will reduce attic temperature to 5-10 degrees F above the outdoor temperature. Ventilating the attic reduces the amount of heat transferred from the attic to the home, decreases the load on the air conditioning system (reducing your electric bill), and extends the life of the roof.
In winter, heat trapped in the attic may melt snow on the roof, which trickles down and creates destructive ice dams in the colder eaves.
Everyday home activities such as cooking and showering create moisture which collects in the attic and promotes mold and mildew growth, reduces the effectiveness of insulation, and attacks the wooden attic structure. Year round fresh air circulation from an Attic Fan removes this moisture and prevents moisture related problems.
Attic Insulation
Attic Insulation is just as important in keeping your house cool this summer. The insulation is placed in the Attic to prevent the radiant heat of the sun from penetrating the house. Make sure that all areas of the Attic is covered, otherwise you could lose 30%-40% of the effectiveness due to a few inches if not insulated correctly.
