All Forum Posts by: Michael Weeks

If its submetered, just send them a bill for usage. Unless there is something I am missing, there is no reason to spend money on this issue. if you are currently obligated by lease to pay utilities, wait until leases are up and then switch.

This would be the obvious & preferred choice, Andrew. These are SRO units and part of the appeal for tenants/market need is an all inclusive product.

Further, there's enough of a margin to make it interesting for me to keep it this way rather than lower the rent and then bill separately/RUBS the utility charges out to the tenants - that's why I'm asking for any recommendations on how to keep the system as-is, but to operate it more efficiently.

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Originally posted by @Robert S.:

Mark Hoover Hey Mark, years ago when we stayed in Italy, I noticed the hotels did something exactly like this. Basically the A/C would not function if we were out of the space. We would have to insert our room key card into a slot for the A/C to work. I would research what type of technology they use to accomplish this.
Also, on the flip side, an occupancy sensors might not be the best way to go, once the sensor does not detect motion, it would stop the A/C. So if someone was asleep at night or taking a nap during the day, the A/C would stop working. The other danger here is that you could control the power to one outlet for the A/C however, A/C’s are 120 volts now, what is to prevent tenant from running an extension cord from another outlet? Hope this helps, best of luck.

Yes, something like this (without the need for the card slot to activate). I wouldn't want it to turn off, just reset to a lower/higher pre-set temperature.

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Hi Judah, have you looked into/considered going with a 3% or 5% down, traditional mortgage route for houses with 4 units or less?

Good luck!

1 Vote

Originally posted by @Mark H.:

If the tenants are already paying for the electric why do you care? Let the tenant set it where they want to and don't worry about it.

Hi Mark, per my OP - the utilities are included in the rent (as in, I pay the utilities) - hence my interest in reducing usage/bills as much as possible. Thanks

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Originally posted by @John Underwood:

I would put each unit on a separate meter so that I didn't have to worry about it.

Thanks John. Units are already sub-metered - but that doesn't actively/automate utility savings which is my goal. Did I miss something?

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Background: just purchased a 15-unit (SRO type units with all utilities included in rent) apartment building in Central Florida.

Current HVAC is comprised of window air conditioners and wall gas heaters.

Plan: move to mini-split systems for each unit to provide heating & cooling.

Question: To save money; I would like to incorporate a system (occupancy sensor, perhaps) that would reset heating and cooling to minimal levels when the tenant has left their unit/no motion is detected for XX minutes.

Any experience with this?

Any (alternative )suggestions or feedback?

Thanks in advance!

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All Forum Posts by: Michael Weeks

Michael Weeks has started 1 posts and replied 6 times.

Post: Occupancy Sensor for HVAC: Any recommendations or experience?

Post: Occupancy Sensor for HVAC: Any recommendations or experience?

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Post: Occupancy Sensor for HVAC: Any recommendations or experience?

Post: Occupancy Sensor for HVAC: Any recommendations or experience?

Post: Occupancy Sensor for HVAC: Any recommendations or experience?