Do you have plans to rent an apartment anytime soon? Then you might wonder if your floor level will affect utility bills. Back in the day, people never worried about this. However, renters nowadays are conscious about saving money as much as possible. Read on, and let's explore how your apartment floor can affect your utility expenses.
How Apartment Floor Level Can Influence Utility Bills?
The vertical position of your apartment plays a major role in determining the energy consumption. Units located on different floors face unique heating and cooling challenges. These challenges are responsible for the cost that you pay each month.
Top Floor Units Face Higher Cooling Costs
Top floors usually have the highest utility bills in most buildings because heat rises naturally throughout the structure. Hence, the upper floors absorb warmth from all units below. Moreover, the roof sits directly above the top-floor units. Sunlight beats down on the roof all day during the summer months as well. This exposure will force your air conditioning systems to work harder.
Ground Floors Use More Heat in Winter
Even though summer makes top-floor residents pay more, the opposite is true in winter. That's because ground-floor units will lose heat through the floor in winter. If there is a crawl space under the floor or a basement, things might get worse. Cold air will seep up from below while heat escapes downward through poorly insulated flooring.
Middle Floors Offer the Best Efficiency
Do you want to keep your utility expenses low throughout the year? Then you should consider renting a unit on a middle floor since it benefits from natural insulation on multiple sides. Units located above will continue to offer a buffer against summer heat. On the other hand, units located below will help to maintain warmth during winter. Hallways in front and neighboring apartments on the sides all contribute towards temperature stability.
This positioning will reduce the overall workload on HVAC systems as well. Your heating and cooling system will not have to compensate for extreme temperature differences. This is why middle-floor residents are enjoying savings throughout the year. It will be the sweet spot for anyone who wants to live with a tight budget.
If you need additional guidance about your utility expenses and keeping things under control, you can work with your property manager. BMG Property Management can guide tenants on how to anticipate and manage utility costs.
Building Design Factors That Affect Utilities
There are building design factors that create an impact on utility expenses as well. Let’s take a quick look at those factors. When you are deciding which apartment floor to live on, check the factors that contribute to utility variations by floor.
Insulation and Ventilation Quality
The number of exterior walls in your unit will matter more than you think. That’s because exterior walls are exposed directly to outside temperatures. They include walls with windows, roofs above top floors, and floors located above unheated spaces. Each exterior surface allows heat transfer between your apartment and outdoors.
If your apartment is surrounded on most sides, you can reduce this temperature loss. This is the arrangement called "conditioned walls" by experts. They separate your space from other heated and cooled areas.
Elevator and Common Area Energy Use
Shared building systems sometimes factor into utility calculations. Many apartment buildings include common area expenses in your monthly fees. However, some properties tend to divide these costs among tenants. This is why you need to understand how your building is handling shared utilities. It will help you avoid surprise charges.
Elevator operations consume electricity continuously. However, buildings that have older elevator systems tend to use more power when compared to modern equipment. This cost will eventually be distributed among the tenants who occupy that property.
Hallway lighting, lobby climate controls, and even shared laundry facilities use energy. Some landlords tend to include these expenses in the base rent. However, others charge them back through utility bills. This is why you need to inquire about common area utility charges before you sign the lease. Then you can accurately budget the overall housing expenses.
Tips for Tenants to Manage Utilities Regardless of Floor
It will not be possible for you to pick the ideal floor to live on at all times. That's where you can follow these tips to manage your utility expenses.
Follow Smart Temperature Management Strategies
Getting programmable thermostats can help you reduce your energy consumption significantly. Once you get it, you need to set your temperature high when you are away from home during the summer months. You can also set the temperature lower in winter. Then you can reduce utility costs without sacrificing your comfort.
Appliance and Lighting Efficiency
You need to replace all your incandescent bulbs with LED alternatives because LEDs tend to consume 75% less energy when compared to traditional bulbs. They will also last much longer, while reducing replacement frequency. This simple switch will reduce electricity consumption while providing better lighting quality.
Building Communication
You can also talk with neighbors about their utility expenses before moving in. Residents on different floors can provide real-world data about costs. You should ask specifically about summer and winter bills. This information will help you set realistic expectations for your budget. If there are maintenance issues, you need to promptly escalate them to the landlord as well. That's because a malfunctioning HVAC unit will just sit there wasting energy.
Final Words
As you can see, the floor you choose for your apartment can significantly impact your utility costs. Top-floor residents will face higher cooling costs during summer. Likewise, ground floors require more heating during the winter months. While keeping this in mind, you can decide whether to rent a unit on a middle floor or follow smart strategies to reduce your energy consumption.
