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How can we reduce our heating costs?

What can we do to keep our air conditioning costs down?

What should we look for when selecting a water heater?

How does a building calculate the optimum size for a hot water tank?

How should we regulate central heating to be cost effective and fair to everyone?

There are many steps you can take to reduce the cost of heating. Some of them require that you call in a handyman, a plumber, or electrician, but all of them will pay for themselves over time.

• Install programmable thermostats that can be pre-set to lower the temperature at night or while you're at work.
• Have your furnace inspected. A properly maintained furnace runs more efficiently.
• Check for air leaks around windows and doors. Use weather-stripping and caulk to eliminate those drafts.
• Fix cracks in your home's foundation.
• Replace missing, broken, and cracked glass.
• Insulate your walls and ceiling. Visit the Dept. of Energy insulation website for suggestions on insulation.
• Keep your kitchen vents closed when not in use.
• Remove air conditioning window units or cover them well.
• Make sure your storm windows and storm doors fit snugly.
• Keep closet doors closed.
• Make sure your radiators work properly.
• If you use forced hot air and have uninsulated ducts, insulate them.
• Lower the thermostat. You'll save as much as 3 percent on your heating bill for every degree that you set back your thermostat full time.

If your budget allows, you may want to consider upgrading your heating equipment. A new flame retention burner can yield an annual energy savings of 15 or more precent, and can pay for itself within 3 years. Upgrading to a new high efficiency boiler or furnace can create savings of up to 40 percent with a typically payback within 8 years.

Here are some tips for keeping your air conditioning bill low:

• On the sunny side of your building, plant shade trees.
• Keep shades or curtains closed on sunny days.
• If you're thinking of repainting the exterior of your building or getting a new roof, consider white or another light color. Light colors reflect the sun's heat.
• Make sure you have roof vents, which help release hot air from the attic.
• If your windows are drafty, fix them. Not only do drafty windows let cold air in during the winter, they let it out during the summer when your air conditioning is on.
• If your air conditioner has energy saving features, use them.
• Make sure the filter on your air conditioner is clean, so that it performs efficiently. If you have central air conditioning, have the system inspected. Parts of it may need to be cleaned or lubricated for it to work efficiently.
• If your air conditioner is old, it may be time to get a new one. Older units are often far less efficient than newer ones, and the savings can amount to hundreds of dollars over the life of the air conditioner according to the U.S. government.
• Consider moving or shading your central air compressor if it's in a sunny area. This can cut energy use by 10 percent according to the Powerhouse website.

If you're thinking of investing in energy saving equipment, keep in mind that many states and energy companies offer information and cash incentives to help you do so. The Edison Electric Institute has a good document listing many of programs available in each state. You can find a link to that document (EEI Programs) in the Condopedia download folder.

The most common type is the storage water heater. It operates by heating cold water that enters the bottom of the tank and releasing hot water from the top of the tank when someone turns on a water faucet. They have two principal drawbacks: you pay to keep the water heated even when no one is using it, and they can run out of water if, for instance, too many people take showers at about the same time.

A demand or tankless water heater does not have a storage tank. Cold water enters through a pipe and a gas burner or electric element heats the water when needed. They are more efficient than tank type heaters, because water is only heated when needed, and they are quite small (some are no bigger than breadbox). However, tankless ones should only be considered for associations that have separate water heaters for each unit. Even expensive ones can only handle a couple simultaneous hot water uses (e.g., a shower and a dishwasher) before there is a large drop-off in temperature. Some people say tankless ones do not work well in cold climates, because they have difficulty heating the very cold water that enters the building.

When buying a hot water tank, be sure to check its Energy Guide label. These labels provide ratings that will help you determine how efficient the tank is. The United States Department of Energy website explains how to read the labels.

A.O. Smith, a manufacturer of hot water tanks recommends the following for minimum tank sizes for apartment buildings:

If you have Adobe Acrobat Reader on your computer, click here to down the complete table.

One person likes it cold; another likes it hot.

One family properly insulated their unit; another did not.

One family lives in the part of the building that first receives heat, while another lives in the part that last receives it.

You may not be able to satisfy everyone's heating requirements, but there are a number of steps you can take to try.

• Make sure your system uses a good thermostat, and have it professionally adjusted. A good thermostat needs to be adjusted so that everyone gets adequate heat. For instance, if your boiler runs for only 5 minutes an hour, that may not be enough time for heat to reach the most distant units.
• In units with radiators, have a plumber inspect them every few years. In many cases, a cold unit is one with broken radiator valves. Most of the new valves allow you to regulate how much heat the radiator gives off.
• Encourage the residents to close their storm windows. Offer to help people who may have trouble closing these windows.
• Encourage unit owners to hire a handyperson to tighten loose windows, put insulation where there are drafts, install door sweeps, and remove or cover window air conditioners. If you're your own handyperson, you might visit a site like Improvements, which offers many products to aid in insulation.
• Establish rules under which the thermostat will be adjusted. For instance, if more than three unit owners request more heat, then the heat will be increased by 2 degrees.
• If an individual resident remains cold, the best solution may be a good quality, safe space heater. For some information on space heaters, check out Hottest New Space Heaters, from Goodhousekeeping Magazine.

For other tips, check out Condopedia's FAQ on reducing heating costs.