Frat House Energy Saving Tips?

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by ISUmatt

No, we don't only pay $40. Basically alumni own the house but they contract out one of the local apt rental companies to manage the house, so they collect per-person rent which INCLUDES utilities but also upkeep the house. They have been losing money on the house because the utilities have been so high. So our individual monthly rent next year is $40 cheaper per month than this year (so we save that $40 on rent overall) which will definitely offset most, and hopefully all of the cost, but obviously that $40 is just going back into utilities. The only diff is that the rent doesn't cover all utils.

Mini-fridges: Everyone has one, literally one for each person. Our "kitchen" is pretty much for show; no one uses the main fridge.

Washing machines: Our washer/dryers are 50c each. The realty company takes that money now but next year we will be getting that money.

Showers/Water: There's never enough hot water as it is. Limiting showers would help but probably no one would enforce it. Especially someone like me who wakes up around 10 and showers . Although perhaps we could put something on the faucets like in public restrooms that you have to push down and it slowly releases? Although I think our realty's guy main problem was the water bill.

That makes sense. But what doesn't make sense is EVERY person having a mini fridge...seriously...how much food/beer can you possibly need at one time? Maybe start using labled containers and the main fridge and at least limiting mini fridges to one or less a room, not one a person.

Enforcing all this would probably be too hard, yeah, but when it comes to money, most people will listen. Combining washer loads, dishwasher loads, limiting plugged in charges and fridges, turning off lights and computers...it all helps.

I think there are shower heads that help save water, and shower time could be limited. I'm sure there's SOME kind of way to limit showers.

[ISUmatt]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

That makes sense. But what doesn't make sense is EVERY person having a mini fridge...seriously...how much food/beer can you possibly need at one time? Maybe start using labled containers and the main fridge and at least limiting mini fridges to one or less a room, not one a person.

Heh... you haven't been in our house. But I mean even back in the dorms everyone had their own mini fridges and that was even when they weren't stocked up with beer because it was too hard to sneak it in. But maybe it's something we could try.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by ISUmatt

Heh... you haven't been in our house. But I mean even back in the dorms everyone had their own mini fridges and that was even when they weren't stocked up with beer because it was too hard to sneak it in. But maybe it's something we could try.

Well as I see it, you have one of two options here:

1. Tell them to get over it, limit the fridges to one per room, and let roomates fight over it.
2. Tell them to man up and learn to drink liquor in order to get drunk, as a fifth of whiskey takes up less room than a case of beer.

[ISUmatt]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

Well as I see it, you have one of two options here:

1. Tell them to get over it, limit the fridges to one per room, and let roomates fight over it.
2. Tell them to man up and learn to drink liquor in order to get drunk, as a fifth of whiskey takes up less room than a case of beer.

Haha, good call, but the question is - will not having those fridges save enough on electricity to cover all the damage done to the house when someone's downed a bottle of whiskey? Not that we're lightweights or anything.

[ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl]

Originally Posted by ISUmatt

Haha, good call, but the question is - will not having those fridges save enough on electricity to cover all the damage done to the house when someone's downed a bottle of whiskey? Not that we're lightweights or anything.

Good point. Ok, do this. Buy them each a fifth of their choice, then drop them in the middle of nowhere for the night where they can't break anything but themselves. Remove all fridges. That'll give you a night and then half a day of recovery to figure out what to do when they realize the fridges are gone.

[jadis96]

My school is having issues with cost of utilties too. We were told that it costs about 35,000$ a month to run our school so we are going through having an "energy nazi" check rooms and such on a regular basis. Yes, it's annoying, but it has made us all more aware, so maybe random checks of empty rooms with lights left on? I know we get an email once a month with a list of rooms where things were left on and embarassment factor alone makes us try to turn things off/ unplug them more.

Also, if your appliance has a light on it, it's using power. Unplug things like laptop/cell phone chargers and coffee pots when not in use. Those little things all add up.

[VandalSquirrel]

My local electric company will come and do a free inspection of your home to show you where inefficiences are. A coworker had one done to her home and other than the obvious things, like light bulbs and insulation, it was very minor and inexpensive things that made a difference. Caullking and weather stripping are both cheap, and even window coverings make a difference.

Also all those mini-fridges and other appliances can be a fire hazard, so that may be another good reason to limit them.

[ISUmatt]

Originally Posted by ΑΓΔSquirrelGirl

That makes sense. But what doesn't make sense is EVERY person having a mini fridge...seriously...how much food/beer can you possibly need at one time? Maybe start using labled containers and the main fridge and at least limiting mini fridges to one or less a room, not one a person.

The problem is the main fridge is in the kitchen which there are tons of people in during parties. Not to say random people would come and eat random food during afterhours, but I wouldn't put it past some of them.

[shinerbock]

In the summer, open the windows and make pledges cool brothers with gigantic fans. In winter, turn off the heat and set a pledge on fire. Hope this helps.

[ForeverRoses]

If random people are in your kitchen during parties, consider putting a lock on the main fridge so only people who live in the house can access it.

Also, if you have the space, consider buying an additional full-size fridge or two for personal food. Just make sure the fridges are energy saver models. Then ban individual fridges from people's rooms. Then you can have the main fridge in the kitchen for "community food" and the other fridge (located maybe in a hallway alcove or a kitchenette area) for personal food. For those hiding alcohol, they will just have to get used to drinking it warm

Switch to the flurescent light bulbs.

Hang thermometers in each bedroom and set a rule that the window air-conditioners can only cool the room to a certain temp (such at 70 dregrees). Have the house manager do random inspections and have a fine system if someone is below the temp.

Limit the number of appliances that can be plugged in at any one time. Not only can it drain power, but it can be a fire hazard as well.

Use the fire hazard excuse whenever someone complains about the new rules!