Our very best tips to stay cool in summer involve one of our sparkling pools and a snowball from your favorite local stand, but sometimes it’s tempting to simply run the A/C at full capacity, open the freezer, and stand in front of it to cool down.
While we certainly don’t blame you (the Gulf South gets hot!), we do think it’s important to conserve energy. Using the following energy-saving tips for apartment dwellers is important not only for your monthly utility bill, but also the environment in general.
Your A/C unit will actually have to work harder to cool down your apartment if you only turn it on when you’re at home. Instead, keep the A/C running while you’re gone at a higher temperature… read more below!
Did you know that for every degree below 79 degrees you set your thermostat, your bill will increase by as much as 3 percent? When you’re not at home, keep your thermostat at 79 for optimal energy use.
Keeping air filters clean is one of the easiest ways to not only save energy but also improve air quality at home. For best results, replace fiberglass filters monthly. The air filter keeps debris and pollutants out of your home’s air system, which improves overall HVAC performance and can even help mitigate allergy symptoms.
You probably spend long periods of time in a certain part of your apartment, whether it’s at your desk on the computer or on the sofa watching television. For these stretches, it’s great to have a small, portable fan you can take with you to keep you cool. Rather than waste energy (and money) cooling down the entire apartment, point a fan your way to stay cool and comfortable economically.
Like a portable fan, ceiling fans are a great way to stay cool. However, you’ll want to check to make sure that your bedroom fans are rotating counter-clockwise for maximum cool-down potential.
Most modern CFL lightbulbs no longer have that annoying buzz or hum, and they use about 70% less energy than incandescent bulbs, so there’s no excuse not to use them! Make sure that the CFLs you use are compatible with your lighting controls though, as most motion sensors and electric timers are not designed to work with CFL bulbs. Be sure to also only use bulbs labeled as dimmable on dimmer switches.
Use your lights in a smarter way. For more light, it’s better to use one large bulb rather than several smaller ones. For example, according to Entergy, one 100-watt bulb uses the same amount of energy as four 25-watt bulbs, yet it produces 50 percent more light.
In addition to our collection of cleaning tips, this one is simple: dust and clean bulbs and lampshades every so often – you’ll be surprised at the difference! You can get up to one-third more light from the same amount of money simply by keeping bulbs and shades clean.
If you like to sleep in, blackout curtains are a must. But they’re also great for keeping out the heat during the summer months. Pick up a cheap pair at Target, or line your existing curtains with blackout fabric available at retailers like JoAnn’s.
Ideally, your refrigerator temperature should be between 37 and 42 degrees; the freezer should hover between zero and five degrees. Leaving town for a summer vacation? Use up the foods that will spoil, then turn your refrigerator up two or three settings (but keep the freezer’s temperature steady at all times).
Don’t overcrowd your fridge, as it can interfere with air flow and efficiency. The opposite is true for your freezer, however; freezers are typically most efficient when fully stocked.
Use the oven rather than the stovetop whenever you can, especially during the heat of summer. Insulated ovens retain heat much better and use less energy than stovetop counterparts, but be sure to use a timer, as opening the oven door lets up to 20% of the heat escape.
If you need a little culinary inspiration, BuzzFeed has you covered with one-tray oven dishes.
Entergy offers a service called Level Billing to help you take control of your monthly utility bill. You can sign up for Level Billing on their website so your bill will be about the same price month after month.
Kenner is upping its game with a new dog park and skate park, plus plenty of playgrounds for the kids. Get the scoop below!
Dogs in Kenner had it “ruff” without any designated city dog park. But it’s official — Kenner City Park has started phase one of construction on a brand-new, dedicated dog park. The dog park will be one of only three others in Jefferson Parish (besides ones at our properties like Bella Ridge, of course). Dogs and their pet parents will love this fully fenced park, featuring watering stations, benches, lush landscaping, and fun, decorated fire hydrants scattered throughout its expansive grounds.
“This dog park is a tremendous addition for Kenner’s City Park, and it’s the kind of quality of life feature that families look for when choosing a place to live,” says Kenner District 5 Councilman Dominick Impastato, who added that the dog park is “part of a master plan to transform City Park into a premier destination for Kenner residents and others in the region.”
Once the park is complete, it will feature three areas for different types of dogs, including an area for small dogs, one for large, passive dogs, and another for large, active dogs. Planners say they also hope to include agility equipment, a splash pad, and a memorial brick paw walkway.
The dog park isn’t all that’s coming to Kenner City Park, either. Just-announced plans for a 2,400-square-foot synthetic ice skating rink for the expanded Christmas Village mean that plenty of fun is available for humans, too!
Skateboarders will (kick) flip over Kenner’s new Wentwood Skate Plaza at 200 W. Loyola Drive. Clocking in at 2,400 square feet, the state-of-the-art skate park is the first of its kind in Jefferson Parish.
The park is open daily from 10 a.m. until dusk with the potential for expanded hours after new lighting is added.
Kenner Mayor Ben Zahn notes that the skate plaza spotlights Kenner’s commitment to outdoor spaces.
“The timely opening for our youth to have another recreational attraction with summer right around the corner is perfect for all Kenner residents to enjoy,” Zahn told NOLA.com.
Families can enjoy Kenner’s wide variety of parks and playgrounds, including Woodlake Playground on Esplanade Avenue. This spacious spot features recreation leagues for soccer, football, baseball, volleyball, cheerleading, track, and more. Plus, clean, well-maintained play equipment like slides and swings are great for the little ones. Other great Kenner playgrounds include those at Kenner City Park and the Lions Playground on Williams Boulevard.
Take a look at all our convenient Kenner properties — plus, they’re dog friendly!
We love having warm weather year round… except maybe during summer, when it gets really warm. Whether you choose to chill in one of our pools or maybe just crank up your air conditioner, you might want to add these easy, no-bake summer recipes to your arsenal of cool-down tricks.
Mexican Shrimp Cocktail — A spin on the traditional shrimp cocktail, this version calls for creamy, cool avocado and Cholula hot sauce (though we bet you could substitute with Crystal). It also happens to pair perfectly with frozen margaritas!
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Italian Panzanella — This no-cook salad is full of texture and pairs well with a variety of main dishes. You can serve it at room temperature or chilled.
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Cantaloupe, Lime & Chili Soup — Complex flavors and a gorgeous color make this the most elegant dish on your summer menu. Plus, it only takes four ingredients!
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No-Bake Peanut Butter Nutella Cookies — The recipe pretty much says it all. Yum!
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Ice Cream with Honey-Poached Apricots — Fruity and refreshing.
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No-Bake Strawberry Tart — This elegant dessert is deceptively easy to make.
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If there’s one thing that adds instant depth to homemade recipes, it’s fresh herbs. Basil on top of Caprese salad, rosemary with grilled chicken, dill with pan-seared salmon, minty lemonade — herbs are more than just garnishes. And while you could use the powdered versions, you’ll get so much more flavor with the real deal. Take advantage of a windowsill or countertop and create your own indoor herb garden with these tips.
Pick your vessel — Mason jars, vintage tea cups, mugs, traditional pots… they’re all fair game when planting herbs. Create drainage holes using a jewelry drill, or look for pre-made, attractive pots at places like Home Depot.
Consider sunlight — Make sure your herb garden gets about 5-8 hours of sunlight per day. Choose a south-facing window if possible to help ensure they receive enough light! If this isn’t an option, consider herbs that don’t require as much light — that means you’ll probably want to stay away from cilantro and parsley!
Watch how much you water — Thyme likes dry soil while basil needs a little more water. Once you pick your plants (side note: Trader Joe’s, Target, and Home Depot are great places to look for herbs), read up on how to best care of them.
One-pot wonder — Hearty herbs like sage and rosemary can coexist together happily in one pot. This is a great solution if you’re short on counter space or can’t devote much time to indoor gardening. All they need is a little water and as much sunlight as possible. Check out the tutorial on Apartment Therapy. Other great one-pot combinations are:
Kickstart with a kit — If you’re less inclined for a DIY project, you can buy an herb garden kit on Amazon. These kits can get pretty high-tech: some are self-watering, and others include a light that replicates natural sunlight.
Millennials know what they want. This is the on-demand generation where everything is available at the touch of a button. Need a ride? There’s an app for that. Need food, quick? There’s an app for that, too. But when it comes to finding the right home, it’s not as simple as downloading an app. Fortunately, we know what millennials want — and you can find it all at Bella Ridge.
The cozy club room at Bella Ridge.
While we don’t have an app for dry cleaning, we do offer concierge services for a variety of services (like dry cleaning!). Think of us as your personal assistant — we’re here to help keep your home life running smoothly.
Beyond perks like granite countertops, large spaces, separate tubs and showers, and more, we also offer a different kind of resident rewards. Our resident rewards program is free to join and gives you discounts on local shopping, dining, and lifestyle services.
Sustainability is important for the earth, and we’re pleased with our Green Globe Certification. This national certification demonstrates excellence in water conservation and energy efficiency.
Sustainability doesn’t stop at building codes. We offer free bike rentals at Bella Ridge — it’s a great way to burn some calories and help the environment simultaneously.
Four-legged friends are welcome at Bella Ridge. We even have our own designated dog park! Just remember to review our dog park etiquette.
Our stunning pool is the perfect place to get away from it all without ever leaving home. In addition to free covered cabanas, our pool also features tanning ledges and a grilling area so you can make a day of it.
Meet other Bella residents and enjoy perks like wine nights and holiday parties at our resident events.
Are you one of those people who likes to exercise late at night? We totally aren’t. But we feel you! That’s why our fitness center is open 24 hours.
Millennials love a good #tb. Enter DVD rentals. You might be tempted to queue up your Netflix account, but check our selection first! It’s old-school fun for an awesome night in.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
