High energy bills may stifle budget

Small acts, such as turning off the lights when leaving a room, keeping the thermostat below 70 degrees and insulating windows, are all common tricks to saving money on energy bills. But sometimes, the prices just keep climbing.

On a college student’s budget, forking over $50 to $80 a month is a hefty chunk of income. A common cause of rising energy bills for UNC students is due to the houses near campus that are extremely difficult to insulate, leaving students no choice but to barricade from the cold with plastic and blankets. Energy bills in Colorado are typically highest from the months of November to March.

Steve Reed, owner of Property Technica Inc., said it is the people who live in the residence who decide their bill’s cost.

“People who live in the place really do control the prices they’re dealt,” Reed said. “The older the property is, the more it is going to cost to heat it. If you conserve and take measures to be conscious about it, like taking quick showers and making sure the heat is at an appropriate temperature, it’s going to make a tremendous difference in how much (tenants) pay.”

Jim Bartling, manager of public affairs for Atmos Energy in Kansas, said there are a copious amount of things — that are low-cost or no-cost — students can do to lower their prices; most of them simply involve common sense.

“On a sunny day during the winter, have the drapes open and use the free sunshine to warm your house during the day,” Bartling said. “Everyone loves to have a warm home, but you have to keep the energy spent in mind.”
Bartling also talked about some quick things students can do to help keep their heating bill low.

“A lot of people have the temperature on their water heaters too high, and that can be kept down,” he said. “If you can turn the temperature down on the heater, you’ll save money. When you conserve gas by using your furnace less, you actually use less electricity.”

Roberta Grantz, the landlord for HUG Housing, said the members who pay the bills need to share a common goal to keep the bill at its lowest. She said a tenant should be as comfortable as they can, but to be economically and ecologically conscientious of how much energy is used. 

“People need to be mindful of what utilities can be modified while they’re gone during class or for the weekend,” Grantz said. “There should always be a checklist before you leave. Organize your utilities, so you can keep the bills at their lowest.”