Sunday, September 15, 2013

Toilet Talk on Conserving Energy

       With appropriate notice, Boston Capital held their selected apartment inspections on August 20th this year.  Previous to, and proceeding that date, maintenance needed entry to each of the 204-apartments to, once again, install a few energy-saving devices such as toilets and faucet aerators, courtesy of taxpayers through the Dept. of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).  In 2007, DHCD already granted a large sum of money for these corporate partners to renovate Rockland Place Apts.  Those extremely invasive and chaotic renovations included faulty roof repairs, exterior vinyl siding, carpets, cabinets, stoves, and interior paint jobs.  Some of these unnecessary and lower-quality renovations became costly and inconvenient for unaccommodated, low-income tenants, some with handicaps and disabilities.
        Since 1973, Rockland Place has installed energy-saving toilets, faucet aerators, and even energy-saving light bulbs in each of their 204 apartments.  In 2013, our government continues to promote the importance of conserving energy by providing corporate landlords rewards for doing so.  Though it really is important to conserve energy, my inquisitive mind makes me question whether or not all of these energy-saving products really save water or simply waste time and tax dollars.  For example, to fill a bathtub, a person would probably use the same amount of water whether or not the water dripped or poured into the tub.  Lowering the water pressure may only make a person take longer to rinse off in a shower while needing to run the water for a longer period of time.   If you recall, the earlier group of energy-saving toilets installed at Rockland Place took several flushes before human waste could finally disappear.  When residents complained, the property manager suggested tenants change their diets.  Beginning in 1999, Management made unnecessary adjustments to timers regulating heat in certain bathrooms.  Selected rent payers were provided only 5-minutes of mediocre warmth while showering in bathrooms with underinsulated, outside walls.
      Because Rockland Place dba Spring Gate Apartments and government officials continue to stress the importance of conserving energy, I'm a bit baffled as to why all maintenance supply rooms are lit 24-hours 7-nights a week, and free living arrangements are provided for too many adult individuals not listed on a Spring Gate lease agreement.  It would definitely conserve a greater deal of energy if corporate management would rid their housing complex of water-consuming live-ins; or place all of the illegitimate energy-users on lease agreements in appropriate sized apartments to realistically account the genuine household income of each and every unit. These illegitimate residents utilize Spring Gate's laundry facilities while legitimate tenants must wait for available washers and dryers.  They freely flush toilets, cook, watch television, bathe, shower, and sleep for more than 14-days each year in subsidized apartments, while legitimate residents pay their fair share of rent.  It shouldn't take much energy for this corporate landlord to recognize troublesome live-ins, especially when police records list them as living at Hannah Way or Martha Drive. 

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