CMU students suggest tips to keep energy bills low

Keeping costs low is a priority for students.

Heating and cooling residences can account for more than half the energy costs during the school year. Many students have learned a few tricks over the years at Central Michigan University to keep heating bills low.

Most heating bills go directly to the customer, although some apartment complexes in the Mount Pleasant area have these utilities included in the tenants’ rent.

Sterling Heights senior Jeff Peet said he heats his home and cooks dinner at the same time.

“Just cook anything that requires you to use your oven,” he said. “It’s a great way to kill two birds with one stone because you heat a portion of your place while cooking dinner.”

According to DTE Energy’s Web site, other ways to keep heating bills low are to make sure drapes and other furniture are not blocking air flow of vents, minimize the number of times residents open and close their doors and dial down the thermostat.

Keeping the thermostat set below 72 degrees can greatly lower heating bills, according to DTE.

Timber Creek Apartments, 3300 E. Deerfield Road, handed out flyers to all its residents, telling them to keep air conditioners off and keep windows closed while they are running the heat.

Sterling Heights sophomore Shain Root said this is his first year living in an apartment, and he plans on using some old tricks he learned at home.

“I know you have to keep your windows insulated, so I intend on putting Saran wrap over some of the windows in my place,” he said.

Chesaning junior Tyler Newman said a good way for him to cut back is to wait for a certain temperature before turning on the heat.

“I like to wait until it gets to the freezing point outside,” he said. “I can find ways to make it bearable until then.”

For Marquette junior Evan Bowman, the winter does not really get to him that often because growing up in the Upper Peninsula trained him for cold weather.

“A lot of times, I just don’t turn my heat on,” he said. “You can always put on more blankets.”

Allen Park senior Kim Beachnau said a great way to save on her heating bill is to just stay out of her apartment as much as she can.

“I can stay busy and go to work or class or do something to stay out of my place,” she said.