ENERGY EFFICIENCY BEST PRACTICES
As part of creating an exceptional living experience for our residents, Berkshire promotes sustainable living in all our communities through BerkshireTHRIVE, our sustainability program. The BerkshireTHRIVE program prioritizes initiatives like energy efficiency, water conservation, and recycling strategies to reduce the environmental footprint of our properties.
You can learn more about BerkshireTHRIVE on our website, thrive.berkshireresi.com.
ELECTRONICS
- Reduce idle energy use by plugging devices into a power strip or outlet timer that can be turned off when devices are not in use.
- Opt for ENERGY STAR® certified products that use less energy, which can be found on their product lookup page.
HEATING AND COOLING
- Keep windows shut when heating or cooling your apartment home.
- Ensure air vents are not blocked by furniture.
- Use blinds and curtains to control daylight and passive heating.
- In the winter, keep blinds open to allow sunlight to enter and warm the room.
- In the summer, close window shades and curtains to keep out heat from the sun.
- Set your thermostat to 68 degrees in the winter and 78 degrees in the summer when you are awake and at home, as suggested by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).
LIGHTING
- Turn off lights when leaving a room.
- Utilize natural light from windows when possible.
- Take advantage of task lighting, such as desk lamps, rather than whole-room overhead lighting.
- Use ENERGY STAR certified LED lightbulbs, which last longer and cost less to operate than standard bulbs.
WATER CONSERVATION
- Run your dishwasher with a full load.
- Scrape food scraps into the trash or compost (if available) instead of rinsing them before loading the dishwasher.
- Select the air dry, energy saving, or short cycle mode on your dishwasher to save both water and energy.
- Avoid running your faucet in a continuous stream. If you are hand washing dishes, consider scrubbing all dishes before rinsing to reduce water use.
- Lowering your water usage can conserve water and help you save money. To prevent unnecessary water use, follow these tips.
- Take a shower instead of a bath – the shorter the shower, the better! According to ENERGY STAR, a 10-minute shower may use less water than a bath.
- Turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth, washing your face, or shaving.
- Consider air drying your clothes to save energy and support the longevity of your clothing and fabric items.
- Clean the lint screen of your dryer after every load.
- Wash your laundry with cold water when possible.
- Run your laundry with full loads and choose the right cycle for your load.
