With this weekend's forecast predicting cold weather and snow showers, students who live off campus will be forced to deal with one of the perils of the Buffalo winter - heating bills.
Assuming normal weather patterns, prices of natural gas between October and April will see a 9 percent increase, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. Students who don't save money now might be in for a rude awakening this winter.
Some students are already dismayed about the cost of heat now, however.
Justin Sudore, a senior civil engineering major and resident of Merrimac Avenue, had a heating bill of $70 last month and is expecting higher bills this winter.
"We looked at the statements from last year. It's going to be anywhere from $150 to $200 a month, without a doubt."
Jennifer Delacruz, a junior health and human services major, experienced a similar problem at her apartment on Northrup Avenue.
"If we leave the heat on during the day, it will be extremely high. I know last year we had a bill of $400," said Delacruz.
Students who are aware of energy expenses have found a variety of ways to combat high bills.
"I got a space heater, but it costs a lot," Sudore said. "It makes the electric bill go way up. I resorted to a lot of blankets."
Courtney Weinberg, a junior marketing major, uses one of the most common methods to preserve heat at her Northrup Avenue apartment.
"We line all our windows with plastic, and we try to maintain the temperature at 68 degrees."
Mindy Czechowski, a junior management major who lives in Orchard Park, said the key to saving on heating bills is simple.
"We make sure the doors are kept closed," Czechowski said.
The best ways to save money on heating bills is to make sure you have storm or double-paned windows in your apartment, said Toby Shapiro, parent program coordinator for the Office of Student Life.
"If (homes) don't have double-pane or storm windows, they're expensive to heat," Shapiro said.
She also recommended reviewing heating bills from the previous residents when choosing an apartment.
Students with low incomes have can get assistance with their heat courtesy of a federal program - the Home Energy Assistance Program. The program offers financial assistance for energy bills to low income households.
"It's all incremental based on your income level," said Czechowski. "There's more money allocated to our area because of the colder weather we have."
Picking an apartment with an attentive landlord can be invaluable when it gets cold out.
"Our landlord's been very cooperative," said Weinberg. "He's one of the good landlords that we know about."
Many students, however, have not had similar positive experiences.
"We had a week without heat and hot water," said Delacruz. "We called the landlord and she took a week to fix it."
Sudore has not only had problems with his landlord, but also with the storm windows in his house.
"There's so many leaks and the landlord won't replace them," he said. "He says as long as there's a window there he doesn't have to replace it."
For students with a negligent landlord, help is available.
According to its Web site, Buffalo's Department of Building Inspectors "looks at structural problems such as holes in the walls, exposed wires, improper insulation."
"Call the Department of Building Inspectors," Shapiro said. "If there are any code violations, they can cite your landlord."
Photo: Courtesy of Laron Fomby
