Energy costs should be one of your primary considerations when deciding where to live. High electric and/or natural gas bills can quickly turn a “cheap place to live” into an economic burden.

While electricity and natural gas will continue to increase in cost, you do have some control over what you pay.

Before you rent, learn how to examine a house for energy conservation measures.  You can get information from the Columbia Water and Light Department by calling 874-7307 and asking for an energy conservation officer.

Contact the energy conservation officer (874-7307) for a free energy audit. He/she will tell you where energy conservation measures are going to be most cost-effective.  Remember, it is worth spending $20 for energy conservation supplies when you can save $100 in heating bills. (That is not an unreasonable savings.)

It’s up to you to save money and energy. Both the Columbia Water and Light Department and Union Electric Company will assist you in saving energy. Make use of their services. Learn how to choose rental housing that will be affordable to heat and cool.

Here is one quick method for checking energy loss around doors and windows. Can you see cracks of light around the outside doors? Do unlocked windows rattle when you shake them? If either answer is yes, there is either no weather-stripping or it is not effective. These two items may seem minor, but in some homes, they cause heating and cooling costs to be over 30% higher than need be.

There are some questions you should ask before you rent:

1. What were past utility costs? (These will vary due to individual energy use habits.)
2. Is the attic insulated? (There should be at least six inches of insulation in an attic.)
3. If you are renting a house with several apartments, is your apartment on a separate meter? If not, you may end up paying for someone else’s wasteful habits.
Picture with woman and bills

If you have already rented a house or apartment, you can save money doing some energy conservation measures.