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Landlords taking steps to prepare for expensive heating seasonLandlords taking steps to prepare for |
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Wednesday, 27 August 2008 |
By CHRISTOPHER ROY
Express Staff Writer
High fuel costs have prompted local apartment building owners to gear up for what could be a very expensive winter.
Doug Spates, owner of Memphremagog Rentals, said his company will
reduce some tenants’ rent and they in turn will pay their own heating
costs. He said those who are eligible can receive more fuel assistance
if they pay their own heating bills compared to when the property
owners pay it. He said tenants tend to save more fuel when they pay for
it.
“Many tenants can put on a sweater and keep the heat down,” he said.
“Paying for your own heat should make you much more conservative and
much more sensible.”
The reduction in rental fees will be determined by the type and size of
the units they live in, said Spates. The bigger the apartment, the more
the rent will be reduced.
But that concept will not work well with other property owners. Bob
Hansen, project manager for Gilman Housing Trust, said it’s hard to
pass costs to tenants who have a limited income.
“They only have so much money to spend on fuel,” he explained. “It
comes back to us. We have to find ways to be more efficient and find
ways to subsidize that fuel cost.”
Besides switching the costs to tenants, Spates said some of his
apartments are being switched to energy-efficient propane heaters that
will go directly into each living unit. Replacing single heating
systems in some of the larger Memphremagog Rental buildings would be
costly, though, said Spates. In those cases, the firm will take steps
to make the building as energy efficient as possible. That includes
replacing the furnace and burner as well as installing new
energy-efficient windows.
Hansen of Gilman Housing said, however, it’s difficult to replace a
furnace that is fairly new. He said in the long term the firm is
looking at alternative heating systems such as wood pellet burners.
But even wood is expensive, said Hansen. He said the biggest problem is
that loggers are having difficulties getting wood out of the wet
forests. He added that some loggers are keeping their wood to see what
the market price calls for this fall.
Some landlords have gone so far as to place thermostats that limit how
warm tenants can set the heat. This has not happened at Gilman Housing
Trust buildings even though property managers have discussed it.
“I don’t think we’re going to do that this year,” Hansen said.
Spates said his firm in the past has placed timers on buildings that
turn the heat off during a couple of hours during the night.
“Obviously you can’t do that when it’s 20 below zero,” he said. Spates has also started insulating many of the basements.
Gilman has begun adding insulation, making sure windows are well-sealed and installing
low-flow aerators that will save on hot water.
“You don’t get a lot of bang for your buck, but you want to be as conservative as you can be,” Hansen said about buying items to make apartments more energy efficient.
Hansen said some tenants need to be educated about not opening windows when the heat is on.
No matter the price, heating oil will cost more this winter than it did last winter, said Spates, who feels bad for the people who physically can’t get out and work.
“They are pretty well stuck on that fixed income,” he said. “It’s unfortunate that Congress can adjourn and not address some of the necessities as it relates to energy efficiency.”
Spates said high fuel costs should be a wake-up call. Americans need to find alternative energy sources. He said the United States needs to stop relying on foreign oil.
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Last Updated ( Tuesday, 02 September 2008 )
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