Erickson Tribune

Sedgebrook

UPDATED: Tuesday, June 20, 2006

Run your Air-conditioner All Summer . . . Without Paying a Penny More on Your Energy Bill

Posted on Saturday, July 01, 2006
 

Community Promises Relief From Soaring Summer Bills

By Melissa Borgerding

THE ERICKSON TRIBUNE

Gas prices this summer average a painful 25 cents higher per gallon than last summer’s record high prices, according to the Energy Information Administration (EIA). Unfortunately, high prices at the pump aren’t the only expense facing Illinois residents this summer.

Air-conditioning, lawn care, and seasonal repairs make up just a few of the extra expenses which, like that additional 25 cents per gallon at the pump, add up to take a big bite out of your summer budget.

Don’t Settle for Costly Solutions

Spend one summer in Chicago and you’ll understand the importance of airconditioning, as well as the expense. Energy bills soar in summer and winter when we run our electrical appliances the most.

The best way to cut back on your energy bill is to use less air-conditioning. If you don’t like the thought of toughing out those hot summer days and nights, the U.S. Department of Energy offers several cooler, but costly, alternatives.

If your air-conditioner is old, replace it with a newer more energy efficient model, and don’t forget to change or clean the filters regularly. In fact, consider replacing all of your older household appliances with newer ones to cut back on your overall energy bill year-round.

In the meantime, just cut back on how often you use those appliances. For instance, wash your laundry in cold water and hang it out to dry. Rather than running your dishwasher, just wash and dry all of your dishes by hand.

Stay Cool and Save

Replacing your old appliances with newer energy efficient models will cost you in the short-term, but it could save you money down the road. However, if you’re not willing to wait five to ten years to see your savings, Sedgebrook offers a better solution.


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Your monthly service package at Sedgebrook includes the cost of energy like air-conditioning and electricity. You control the temperature, so you can keep your apartment home as warm or as cool as you like. Best of all, no matter where you set the thermostat, the cost of your monthly service package remains the same.

Erickson has the 23-year experience to control expenses in the current economy, according to Retirement Counselor Tracy Dellaria. “Unlike many other communities, Sedgebrook is operationally efficient,” she explains. “The Board of Directors sets the monthly service package just once a year to adjust for labor and energy costs. So no matter how high energy costs soar, the monthly service package remains stable all year round.”

When Hy and Ruth Chausow of Highland Park compared how much they spent in their house to how much they would spend living at Sedgebrook, they liked what they saw. “When we sat down and figured out what Sedgebrook would cost, it came out very close to our house—and that’s not counting what we save on gas, rising taxes, and maintenance.”

Stop the Little Expenses from Adding Up

Along with rising energy bills, summer heralds in additional worries like lawn care and seasonal maintenance. Spending an entire day mowing the lawn, cleaning the rain gutters, or repairing the damage winter has wreaked on your driveway is nobody’s idea of summer vacation. Finding a good lawn service is one time-saving solution. However, as the cost of gas rises, so does the cost of hiring a lawn service. Most companies rely on gasoline to power their equipment.

In addition to a lawn service, you will need to hire a repairman to patch up the driveway and a roofer to take a look at that leak you noticed during the last thunderstorm—the thunderstorm that knocked all of those big tree branches into your yard. You’ll have to hire a hauling company to take care of them.

All of these little things add up to a big hassle for homeowners. Just ask Ginger Kotz of Chicago. “When you’re living in your house, you always have to try to find maintenance men to fix the little things. Sometimes they don’t come in to do little jobs, and sometimes they just don’t show at all,” she says. “But here, I can live the rest of my life in freedom and not have any worries. Sedgebrook is the best way to go.”

All of the little things Ginger describes are included in her monthly service package. A professional landscape team keeps Sedgebrook’s grounds looking their best all year long. Should Ginger’s new appliances ever need service, her full-time on-site maintenance crew is there to help.

At Sedgebrook, all of those little hassles are no longer a big problem.

Priceless Peace of Mind

An extra 25 cents per gallon at the pump may not sound like a whole lot more out of your pocket—until you consider how quickly that amount adds up. The same is true of those other summer expenses like airconditioning and home and yard maintenance. Not only do these expenses take a bite out of your budget, they cause enough stress and worry to take all the fun and relaxation out of your summer.

Sedgebrook’s monthly service package provides peace of mind. Rather than worry about soaring energy costs and expensive seasonal maintenance, Sedgebrook residents like Hy, Ruth, and Ginger are staying cool without the stress this summer.



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