Are your utility bills getting to be a little higher than you’d prefer? Many One 51 Place residents find this to be a common problem as we get into the hot summer months because it takes more energy to keep your apartment cool under the blazing Florida sun. Thankfully, you don’t have to simply sit back and let your bank account suffer until the cool air rolls in. Instead, there are a number of steps you can take to lower your utility bills so that you can still enjoy your summer without wishing it away.

Here are some quick tips to help you save on your utility bills:

• Keep your blinds closed whenever possible to block the hot sun from entering into your apartment. This will keep your HVAC system from having to work as hard to maintain a cooler indoor temperature.
• Alternatively, you can place large houseplants in front of your windows. Not only will this block the sun from entering your apartment, but the plants will thrive in their sunny spots. Be sure to put a mat down to protect your floors if you are going this route.
• Run your ceiling fans whenever possible. This will help to circulate cool air around your apartment while using much less energy than what is required of your AC.
• Plug electronics like your TV and laptop into a power strip. Then turn the power strip off when you are not using it. This will keep your electronics from using energy when you’re not using them.

Follow these tips to minimize your energy costs during the hot summer months at One 51 Place. You can also set your thermostat up a few degrees when you’re not going to be home for a while, but don’t turn your AC completely off during the day. It actually takes more energy (and stress on your AC) to run your AC all night to cool off a hot apartment than to keep it running intermittently during the day and turn your thermostat down a couple degrees when you come home.

If you’re not currently a resident of our community but are interested in learning about our Alachua, FL, apartments and numerous community amenities, stop by our leasing office at your convenience.