Tips to Use Your Apartment AC Efficiently | Collective
Save this summer by using our tips to best manage your AC.
As summer heats up quick, we’ve got you covered on how to lower your electric bill. Here are our tips to help you stay cool this summer, while remaining cost efficient.
1. Turn AC on Early in the Day
ACs should be turned on early in the day before the outside temperature starts to rise and the apartment starts to heat. Turning it on when you return home will take several hours to reach a comfortable temperature.
2. Check/Clean Filter
Make sure AC filter is clean. Filters can typically be removed and wiped off with a damp rag or warm, soapy water. This will help air move more easily through your unit, keep your air cleaner, as well as help your AC unit not have to work as hard.
3. Close Blinds
Close blinds during the day, especially for South and West facing windows. This will reduce the heat that enters the apartment.
4. Check Vent Settings
Some ACs have an open/closed vent setting. The “closed” position will cool air from inside the apartment, the “open” position will pull hot air inside and try to cool it. The “closed” position will be optimal on days where it is hotter outside than inside.
5. Use Medium-High Setting
If you run your AC at too high of a setting, it will likely freeze up and stop running. Medium-High will be optimal.
6. Use a Fan
A box or oscillating fan helps circulate cool air throughout the apartment, and takes some of the heavy lifting off the AC.
7. Close Doors
Close the doors to rooms that do not need to be cooled down (such as a closet, storage room, bathroom, etc.) The smaller the space, the easier and quicker the apartment will cool down.
Please note that ACs are only designed to cool the air 15-20 degrees from the outside temperature. If it is 95 degrees outside, your apartment will likely not get down to 60 degrees. As long as cold air blows out of the AC vents, your AC is likely working properly.
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Residents Gather to Win Prizes and Enjoy new Community Room
Great States/Collective co-founder Rick Berg has been named to the 2026 Leaders and Legacies class by Prairie Business Magazine, joining six other honorees recognized for their impact on the region and their role as role models for the next generation of leaders. Prairie Business editor Carrie McDermott said the award recognizes top executives from our region, noting, "They are the region's leaders who are role models for the next generation.
Ask Shawna Jorgensen what a typical day looks like and she'll probably laugh. "That's one of my favorite parts of the job — no two days are the same." As Community Manager at Huntington Village and Jackson Heights , Shawna assists residents, conducts showings, coordinates with vendors, plans and hosts events, and steps in wherever she is needed. The list, she'll tell you, goes on.
Collective is excited to welcome Jackson Heights Apartments and Townhomes to our growing portfolio of resident-first communities in South Dakota. Located in Harrisburg, South Dakota, Jackson Heights is just down the road from our Huntington Village community in Sioux Falls. “Jackson Heights is a great fit for Collective. We are glad to be growing our presence in the Sioux Falls area,” according to Scott Houle, President of Collective. Jackson Height’s location is a big draw, offering easy access to Sioux Falls coupled with the pace of a smaller city. Another reason residents choose Jackson Heights is that it’s one community with two great choices: apartments and townhomes.
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Jade Wahl loves the kind of environment where most people would probably feel overwhelmed. “I thrive in chaos,” Jade said. “Every day brings something new.” Her career in property management started about eight years ago in Bismarck as a leasing agent before being promoted into a property manager role where she oversaw properties and the people who keep them running. Through connections from a previous job, she was introduced to Collective and shifted her focus to a different side of property management: Learning and Development Specialist. It was natural given her experience in supporting team members. "I love the relationships I get to create with each of our team members."
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