Blog Post

Should You Monitor Your Properties' Energy Consumption?

Dustin Edwards • Nov 26, 2022

Monitor Energy Consumption To Understand Your Properties Needs

Homes nowadays have more appliances than just a refrigerator, blender and television. It's common for homes to have many devices that are constantly turned on and consuming energy, such as tablets, routers, security cameras, auto feeders and the list goes on and on.


Although there isn't much that can be done about how much these devices consume energy, you can take steps to monitor the energy consumption of your Long Beach rental properties. This can be beneficial to your tenants to lower their electricity bill, for yourself if you include electricity into the rent and for the city to help curb over consumption.


Importance of Monitoring Energy Consumption

Besides saving money on electricity bills, monitoring energy consumption can be used to inform your tenants how their devices affect the environment. Having additional information such as energy monitors can attract tenants who are looking to curb their power usage, be more mindful and healthier. Tenants, much like everyone, are generally looking to save money anyway they can. By giving them the tools required to monitor their power consumption they develop better electrical usage habits which can prevent unnecessary wear and tear on your electrical system and HVAC system. This can result in happier tenants, who in turn can be more likely to stay at your rental property for extended periods of time. This can minimize vacancy periods and ultimately improve your bottom line.


For landlords, monitoring energy consumption can promote building efficiency practices. Especially in apartment buildings with communal zones. As well as predicting when systems and equipment may require maintenance before there is a failure.


How to Monitor Energy Consumption

In order to monitor energy consumption you’ll have to invest in a few products such as smart plugs or power strips like the Kasa Smart HS300 which are compatible voice assistants and each socket can be monitored individually. Home energy monitors such as the Emporia Vue can be installed at the main service of the home or apartment allowing you to monitor as many as 16 circuits on your phone or smart device. This installation will likely require an electrician.


Detecting Vampire Loads

Also referred to as idle loads, vampire loads happen when devices appear to be off but are actually on standby. Electronics such as televisions, computers, gaming consoles and cell phone chargers often enter a sleep mode when turned off or not in use. Over 20% of household energy consumption in California are these vampire loads and this number is set to rise as more products come with this kind of feature.


Though many devices consume energy throughout the day, keeping a charger constantly plugged in won’t cause a major shift in energy consumption. Electronics such as smart televisions, desktop computers and gaming consoles can consume as much electricity as a refrigerator due to often having many system updates.


Simply unplugging everything from their respective wall sockets would help alleviate the issue though convincing your tenants to make this a habit is unlikely to happen. A better solution is to upgrade the rental property with devices that allow them to make the conscious decision to reduce their consumption.


With more and more use of electricity in the world it's a good idea to future proof your Long Beach rental property. If looking to update your property with modern smart devices or are interested in
installing solar to help reduce the use of power on the city and save your tenants even more money call us at (562) 888-0247 or feel free to fill out our free rental analysis to see what your rental could yield today.

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By Dustin Edwards 01 May, 2024
Everyone wants to feel safe in their homes. As an investment property owner, it's up to you to decide whether or not to include security measures in your property. Many of the costs associated with the security measures can be included in the rent, meaning not only can you keep your property safe, but you can earn more income in the long run. However, you would still want your tenants to have renters insurance to protect their assets. Today, we’ll discuss the top five security measures you can add to your property and why they're beneficial to you and your tenant. Security Cameras Cameras are probably one of the first security measures people think about when asked about security. Cameras provide more benefits than just surveillance. They provide an extra level of security for the safety of the tenants and their belongings. Additionally, security cameras can be useful when repairs are required. Cameras can aid in supervising repairs and maintenance to ensure you’re receiving the agreed-upon work. During vacancies when the property is empty, security cameras can help keep the property safe from potential intruders. Doorbell cameras are incredibly popular now. They provide the aforementioned safety of a camera that can be accessed remotely, as well as the ability to communicate with visitors. Although one must be careful never to say you're not home, just say you're unavailable to strangers. Security Lights Security lights with motion detectors are another effective tool when adding security measures to your property. These lights brightly if a potential intruder attempts to get near your home. They can provide enough illumination to see the intruder or, at the very least, scare them off. Nowadays, you can find a combination of security cameras and motion-activated security lights, such as the floodlight cam wired plus from Ring . Additionally, because these lights only turn on when motion is detected, they’re more cost-effective than traditional lights with a switch. Illuminate the Property Light generally deters intruders as it's more difficult to hide. Adding lighting to the landscaping can increase the security of the property while creating a relaxing atmosphere. Lights can also be used in other areas of the property to accent features such as trees, benches, or artwork. This can help your property stand out while giving your tenants an additional feeling of safety. Keyless Entry Keyless entry is seen as both a convenience feature and a security feature. They usually use an electronic passcode, biometric data, or grant access through a smartphone app. Physical keys can be lost, stolen, or duplicated. You reduce the risk of unauthorized entry by eliminating the need for a physical key to enter the property. Many keyless entry systems include several features, such as remote locking and monitoring. Although keyless entry is a great new technology for keeping your tenants and properties safe, they’re best used with other security systems. Security Company Nothing beats having an extra pair of eyes on your property for security. This is where security companies like ADT and SimpliSafe come in. While companies may deal with security in varying ways, they aim to protect your investment. While safety is the primary role of a security company, remember that many tenants may be willing to pay more for a premium amenity like a home security company. Keeping your property and tenants safe is incredibly important to the longevity of an investment property. If you’re looking to improve the security of your Long Beach rental property or need help managing your beach city rental property, we invite you to call us today at (562) 888-0247 or fill out our Owner Application online .
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