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Moving in to your first apartment is both exciting and scary. Heatherwood knows paying rent and all your own bills can be intimidating. But don’t worry we have some sure fire ways to help you save on your electric bill so you can spend your money on more important things like food and unlimited data!
1 of 5-Energy Efficient Light Bulbs…one of the best ways to save.
One of the first things you should do when moving into your apartment (besides ordering a pizza) is to replace the incandescent 
lightbulbs (most likely left behind by the previous tenants) with energy efficient CFL or LED lightbulbs. CFL’s produce the same amount of light as standard bulbs but use 75% less energy! LED bulbs are also very efficient and designed to save even more!
2 of 5-Smart Power Strips, plug ‘em in!
Electronics rule our lives. Cell phones, computers, TV’s, tablets, video games and coffee makers all have to be plugged in right!?! And did you know that when these items are not in use they still use electricity? Now that you’re paying your own bills, this will not do! So run to your (fully charged) laptop and order a Smart Power Strip now! These items are intended to automatically turn off when items are not in use; others are programmable so you can set them to turn-on and off during specific hours.
3 of 5-The Dishwasher: Some rules to save apply.
It is no secret that an apartment equipped with a dishwasher is so convenient! But it’s also true dishwashers use a lot of electricity. So, here are some great money savings tips:
Skip the “heat drying” cycle. Simply open the door at the end of the wash and let the dishes air-dry.
Before loading your dirty dishes into the machine, scrape and rinse the plates entirely so you can run a “quick wash”.
Never run the dishwasher with just a few items in it (we know you want the use the blender for smoothies the next morning) but this is not the best way to save money.
4 of 5-Microwave vs the Stove, let the savings games begin!
It’s hard to believe that some apartments on Long Island (and even some in Brooklyn or Queens) are not always equipped with gas stoves, which means electric ranges will be the alternate method by which you will be cooking. So here’s a couple of ways to save. Try preparing smaller meals like oatmeal & soup in the microwave. If you do have to cook large meals, cover your pots and pans with lids (and items in the oven with foil) this will help reduce cooking times. Extra Tip: Invest in a Crock Pot! These items work great and can save you big-time on your monthly electric bill.
5 of 5-Washing and Drying Your Clothes the clean and efficient way!
These days most of us wear clothes that don’t really need to be washed too aggressively. So, unless you’re zombie hunting for a living, your clothes will 
probably come perfectly clean in the “quick wash” cycle. Also, cutting down on the pre-and post-rinse cycles is a great way to save on your electric costs. And when you’re drying clothes, try to “hang-dry” some items. Hanging garments to dry inside your apartment (or outside on your terrace or patio) will drastically cut down on the amount of time you have to run the dryer.
If you have other ways to help fellow apartment renters save money on their electric bills leave us a comment below. Or, if you’re looking for an apartment on Long Island, Brooklyn or Queens click here for all our available units at Heatherwood.
Chung Cu:
I use compact lights to save money
Barbara Mcgarity:
Great article, another thing is that you should use appliances when it’s cooler outside. I think if you live in a cooler climate, you don’t have to worry about this. Hotter climates, though, can definitely cause your appliances to work harder.
Johnd156:
I truly appreciate this post. I’ve been looking everywhere for this! Thank goodness I found it on Bing. You’ve made my day! Thank you again! gabeaggdebbd
Roger Middleton:
My wife and I have been wanting to find somewhere to live for a while now, and we haven’t known what to look for. I liked that you had mentioned that it can be important to get energy efficient bulbs to save some energy money every now and then. We’ll have to start looking around at homes for rent and once we can find one, we’ll be making sure we use energy efficient bulbs to save that money.
Alexandria Martinez:
I really liked what you said about using a small meal and using the microwave to heat it up. This is a great idea to ensure that you are not using too much electricity. My fiance and I will remember this as we look at electric rates.
John:
I like your tip to use energy efficient appliances. I bet bulbs and dishwashers can save you money. I’m going to rent my first apartment this summer, so I’ll that tip then.
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