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What steps can a condo association take to save money on its electric bill?

What are some of the steps a condo association can take to improve electrical safety?

Our common area lightbulbs need frequent replacement. What's a good alternative?

Electric heat, air conditioners, and electric hot water heaters use a lot of electricity. Automatic thermostats help. They can be programmed to adjust the heat based on the outside temperature, the time of day, or the day of the week.

Energy saving (CFC) Compact Fluorescent bulbs are a little expensive, but pay for themselves. They last longer than regular bulbs and use up to 75 percent less electricity. Also consider LED bulbs. These use very little electricity and last up to 100,000 hours; however, they are quite expensive.

Another way to reduce lighting costs is to install motion sensors to turn on the lights in response to motion. These sensors are often used outdoors near secondary entrances and paths. In addition, have your heating and cooling systems checked annually for efficiency.

If your building is up to code, you may not need to make any changes. However, if you do not know if your building is up to code, you should consider having a qualified electrician visit your premises.

The electrician will make sure that you have the right kind of outlets. In many communities, any outlet within 6 feet of a sink or a plumbing fixture must be ground fault circuit interrupter protected. GFI outlets shut off the electrical feed to reduce the likelihood of bodily harm and prevent damage to the items plugged into the outlet. GFI outlets wear out, and you should not have a anything, such as a clock, that is always running on this type of circuit.

An electrician can also inspect any visible wires. Older buildings often have many wires that are visible, but not in use. It's a good idea to have an electrician remove these wires or at least verify that they are not live. If your building is very old, the electrician might want to know if it's had any long-lasting water leaks or if you are aware of any parts of the walls that feel warm. Warm walls may be a sign that the covering on the wires is wearing away. This can be a dangerous situation that must be addressed.

Perhaps you've already heard that replacing your standard incandescent light bulbs (the kind you're always replacing and running out of!) with energy-efficient compact fluorescent bulbs can save you up to 70% on your electric bill and have to be replaced only 1/10th as often. If not, this page from the California Energy Commission can give you some useful information.

But perhaps you've been turned off to long-lasting, energy-efficient bulbs because of their higher price tag or appearance. You should take a second look. Fluorescent bulbs have improved in the last few years. They're smaller, cheaper, and project a similar kind of warm light as standard incandescent bulbs. A spiral-shaped, screw-in, compact fluorescent light bulb can last for up to 10,000 hours (compared to 750 hours for regular light bulbs), which means you may not have to replace it for years!

The U.S. Department of Energy offers this illuminating comparison:

Starting this month, Condopedia offers special prices on these long-lasting bulbs. The condo associations that we at Condopedia belong to use these types of bulbs; thus, we feel confident recommending them to you. For very competitive prices on these bulbs, visit our new Condopedia Catalog.