Utilities Use conservation

Started by MaryP24 • 6 replies • 292 views

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MaryP24 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 68

Posted:

Our utilities bills are high, and we are looking for ways to reduce the consumption of water and consider incentives for the owners to assist in reducing these costs. Of course, electric and gas conservation solutions are our concern, too.

The maintenance monthly assessment includes all utilities paid.

What are the successful energy solutions that you have implemented?

AugustinD
Posts: 3,698

Posted:

MaryP24, can you post to the forum whether sub-metering of units for either water, electric or gas is even physically possible? For example, does each unit have its own shut off valve? If so, the chances of sub-metering for water are good.

How many units are there?

How many meters for water are there? Same question for gas and electric.

Can the HOA coordinate with the city to monitor water usage on a 24-hour basis, so excessive usages pointing to leaking commode flapper valves and the like are apparent? This is pretty common these days.

KerryL1 (California)
Posts: 14,550

Posted:

A poster form PA a few years ago woe that his HOA instituted a good water savings program for toilets or toilet flappers. Can't quite remove. Perhaps, NpS (or something similar will remind us what they did). They might have offered incentives for new low-flush toilets?

Meanwhile, our condo building has provided running-water detection tablets for toilets here from time to time. We're 20 y.o. and some owners still do have original toilets with the old traditional flappers.

SheliaH (Indiana)
Posts: 6,964

Posted:

Do the utility in your area have some sort of energy assessment program? Usually, someone comes out and walks around the house identifying areas where the homeowner could make some improvements, and they also install little things like faucet aerators, water-saving showerheads and lots of LED or CFL bulbs. I had one done years ago and recently called the gas company for my mother's home (didn't know she had the inspection several years ago as well, but she did get a programmable thermostat and lots of LED bulbs out of the deal).

Because of COVID, companies may be doing these virtually, so people can go online or call to schedule an appointment. In your case, I'd run the numbers and let the homeowners know how much this is costing per household. I'm sure everyone has different issues, but if everyone's encouraged to get the assessment, they can start taking steps to improve their homes (things like replacing toilet flappers should be at their expense, but that's not very expensive.)

I assume you live in a high rise - could the building be placed on a budget plan? My last apartment building did that (the amount was based on the average costs of electricity for the units). At the end of winter, anything beyond the budget amount was split up among the tenants who paid their share. If there was a savings, you paid nothing, so that was a type of incentive to pay attention to the utilities.

Now that plan only applied to the gas heat (we paid for our own electricity), but you may be able to do something similar with electricity and water

If it is not right do not do it; if it is not true do not say it. Marcus Aurelius

MaryP24 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 68

Posted:

AugustinD,

Thank you for your time. I asked board member to provide answers to your questions but not having answers forwarded them to property manager.
I will keep you posted as soon as I have answers.

MaryP24 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 68

Posted:

KerryL1,

Very good points! Thank you!

MaryP24 (Pennsylvania)
Posts: 68

Posted:

SheliaH,

Great suggestions! I checked and both the Water/Sewage and the Electric companies offer such programs.

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