We live in a reformed world where thinking globally and with the environment in mind is important for making the planet a better place to live right now and in the future. Whether or not you are concerned with energy efficiency or you just want to lower your electric bill, there are some simple practices and tools that can accomplish both at once.
If your apartment has central air, ask your property manager about installing a programmable thermostat if there isn’t already one. One of the biggest power suckers that is also one of the easiest to fix is plugged in power outlets. There are eco-friendly power strips that can be purchased to eliminate excessive use of power outlets and decrease the amount of energy expended. You’ll just need to remember to unplug the power strip cord from the wall outlet for it to be effective. See, we told you turning your apartment into an eco-friendly home was easy.
Speaking of easy, there are several other easy ways to cut down on power use. One way is to check your water heater settings and make sure it’s not set too high. If you’re having to turn down the heat significantly, it probably is and it can be lowered to a comfortable temperature while using less energy. Other ways are to regularly replace your air conditioner’s filter so the air conditioner doesn’t have to exert more energy than normal to do its job and use energy efficient light bulbs.
Every little bit helps, and if you follow these simple steps, you’ll be doing the earth and your bank account a favor.
Check out the many energy efficient apartments that 1st Lake Properties has to offer!
Many of the 1st Lake Properties apartments in the New Orleans area have been busy over the past few months with philanthropic efforts and giving back to the communities they love. Residents have done their part to be good samaritans, benefiting others as well as themselves.
Managers and residents of the Citrus Creek apartments for rent in River Ridge held a “Warm a Life” clothing drive during the entire month of January. “Our expectations were overwhelmingly exceeded by the amount of donations received,” said Property Manager Christine Ward. Citrus Creek East collected large boxes of items, mostly gently worn coats, shoes, shirts, socks, pants, pillows and blankets. All of the donations will be delivered to the New Orleans Mission. All residents that donated were entered into a drawing to win a free oil change from Auto Empire. Citrus Creek West also contributed to the donations.
In December and January, residents at the Kenner apartments of Lakes of Chateau Estates North and South donated new and gently used coats for the Coats for Kids Foundation.
Both Citrus Creek and the Sugar Mill West apartments in Kenner participated in blood drives in December with substantial turnouts, providing many donations to the Blood Center. Sugar Mill West is holding their next blood drive on February 23 and residents who donate will be rewarded with a free ticket to the Home & Garden show on the same weekend.
As you can see, 1st Lake Properties fosters communities that lend a hand to the less fortunate. If you’d like to be part of this good company, check out the many New Orleans area apartment rentals we have available.
Have you found yourself in a situation where the various cords in your apartment have become tangled and out of control, causing eye sores and even a fire hazard? You may be a victim of cord chaos, but not to worry. We have easy cord control solutions to make the exposed electrical wires in your home as out of sight and out of mind as possible.
Charging Stations – For mobile and portable devices, like cell phones and tablets, charging stations with multiple adapters will charge a variety of smaller electronic products. One carrier of these kinds of charging stations is Great Useful Stuff.
Ties – A common cause of cord dysfunction is loose cords laying or hanging free without any organization. Basic plastic zip ties or twist ties like Velcro bands offer an easy solution. By safely consolidating nearby cords together, you can eliminate a mess of intertwining cables.
Cable Storage – Do you have a drawer somewhere in your apartment that is a little haywire (pun intended)? An easy and inexpensive way to store away cords and cables is to wrap them up and insert them inside a cardboard paper towel roll or poster canister.
Cord Identifiers – Often times, it’s not locating the cords you need, but knowing which one goes with each device. A typical area where you might encounter such a situation is the entertainment center or cable box. A clever and colorful way to identify several cords in one place are circular dot IDs, like the ones from Dotz.
Looking for a new apartment? Check out 1st Lake Properties’ many great New Orleans area apartments in Metairie, Kenner, River Ridge and on the Northshore at Mandeville, Covington and Slidell!
Looking to move to a town in Louisiana that has the perfect balance of activity and opportunity? Baton Rouge could be the perfect place for you. Whether you are already a resident of Baton Rouge or thinking about becoming one, 1st Lake Properties has apartments for rent in Baton Rouge at three great communities: Lake Towers, Regency Club and Spring Brook.
Baton Rouge has a top notch dining and nightlife scene. Being the home of the LSU Tigers brings the demand for popular food and beverage options, and Baton Rouge delivers in every way. From regional delicacies like alligator sausage and crawfish to plenty of international cuisine, the Baton Rouge culinary community has something for everyone.
Because Baton Rouge is the capitol of Louisiana and home of the Tigers, it attracts a youthful and talented community. Baton Rouge is a very artistic city, showcasing many excellent galleries, museums and exhibits throughout the city, including the LSU Museum of Art, the Louisiana Art and Science Museum, the Baton Rouge Gallery and the Manship Theatre.
Coming up on May 25-26 is one of the biggest events of the year in Baton Rouge, the Bayou Country Superfest. This year, the Superfest at the LSU Tiger Stadium features Miranda Lambert, Lady Antebellum, Zac Brown Band, Luke Bryan and more awesome musical acts.
Whether you’re familiar with or new to Baton Rouge, check out some of the great cultural attractions it has to offer, and while you’re at it, the excellent Baton Rouge apartment rentals at 1st Lake.
Updating the look and feel of your home doesn’t mean you have to buy new furniture or interior design merchandise. Make the old new again by repurposing old furniture, clothing or pottery. Here are some ideas of how to get creatively crafty with giving your apartment a vintage makeover.
Instead of throwing out grandma’s old rocking chair, give it a facelift with new upholstery. Reupholstering furniture is one of the most basic yet effective ways to transform old pieces to new. Pick out a modern material that you like to replace the original pattern, sand and stain or paint the piece of furniture, and you won’t even believe it’s the same one!
Do you have old, delicate bowls, saucers or china that you don’t use as regular dishware? Little decorative pieces like that make for great jewelry storage. Use pottery heirlooms as pretty jewelry organizers for earrings, bracelets, rings and necklaces. Check out other great ideas for reusing household items for jewelry storage from Apartment Therapy.
Chances are you have some old clothing in one of your closets or drawers that you never wear anymore. If there are articles of clothing that you don’t want to donate because they are faded or have holes, instead of throwing them away, think about how you can reuse them in the home. Some ways to do this are using old sweaters for lampshades, turning old shirts into tote bags, and anything else you can think of. Use your imagination!
1st Lake Properties has thousands of great apartments for rent in New Orleans and the surrounding areas.
1st Lake Properties | P. O. Box 73709 | Metairie, LA 70033 | info@1stlake.com
