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Your Guide to Student Apartments near Purdue University


Dec 2, 2009

Winter Energy Tips for your Apartment or Rented House

Category: Energy Saving Tips
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Heating your apartment is the biggest energy cost during the winter. Well there is good news –You can keep your apartment warm without going broke!

Here are some helpful tips to keep heat in:

  • If you have storm windows, make sure they are closed.
  • Install covers on window and through the wall air-conditioners.
  • If you have a fireplace, be sure to close the damper when you are not using it.
  • Close shades at night. Leave them open during the day for solar heating.

Controlling Temperature and Humidity

Setting the thermostat one degree cooler can save you 3% on your monthly heating bill. It is good practice to not set your thermostat above 72 degrees when you are home. When sleeping or away, lower your thermostat to 65 degrees. Also, if possible, turn down the heat going to any unused rooms. Note: never turn off your heat during winter months when you leave your apartment–pipes may freeze and burst causing your apartment to be flooded!

During the winter you will feel warmer in your home if the air is not too dry. Be sure to keep the relative humidity between 20 percent and 40 percent. This will let you lower the thermostat temperature without feeling cold.

Appliances

  • Keep refrigerators between 37-40 degrees F for the fresh food compartment and 0-5 degrees F for the frozen food compartment.
  • Replace broken door gaskets.
  • Don’t let more than a quarter inch of frost build up in the freezer. Regularly defrost manual-defrost refrigerators and freezers.

Lighting

  • Use natural light whenever possible
  • Turn off lights when you are not using them
  • Use energy efficient bulbs



Dec 1, 2009

5 Things to Know Before Renting

Category: Apartment Search
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1. Budget

Before touring apartments, find out how much you are willing to pay. Focus your search according to your budget. If you find an apartment that is outside your budget, make sure it is worth spending the extra money.

2. Where to search?

The most convenient way to search is to use the internet. You will have instant access to hundreds of properties, be able to compare them to each other, and view pictures of the property. This is the #1 way students find their apartment/house to live in. Many have found www.purdueguru.com to be a powerful tool that can guide you in your apartment search.

3. What to search for?

Take a piece of paper and write down the requirements you have. Do you want to live on campus or off campus? Do you need a washer and dryer? How important is parking to you? What other amenities/utilities do you need? Questions like this are good to ask yourself.

4. Inspect the apartment

Some good things to check for are:

  • Sink faucets, shower heads and water – make sure both hot and cold work, pressure is decent, and toilets flush properly and there are no leaking pipes
  • Electricity and appliances should all be working. Make sure lights are all operational. Check heater and air conditioner to make sure they are working properly.
  • Walls and Windows – make sure windows work properly
  • Noise – Once inside the apartment, listen and see if you can hear noises from adjoining apartments, traffic, or other neighbors.

5. Find out what’s included

Before signing make sure you know what is included in the rent. Heat? Water? Electricity? If you are paying for utilities, make sure to ask the landlord what the average utility costs are.