Here’s the plan: The Baton Rouge Area Foundation announced today that its next public meeting for its ongoing effort to create a master plan for the LSU Lakes has been scheduled for May 12 at the LSU Lod Cook Alumni Center, 3838 West Lakeshore Drive, from 6 to 8 p.m. The public is invited to attend the meeting to learn about the project and provide input. Work on a draft of the plan is currently underway. You can see the initial designs online and also RSVP to attend the May 12 meeting.
Cool ideas: As the mercury rises across south Louisiana in the spring and summer months, so do electric bills as people crank up their air conditioners to cool off. But LSU AgCenter housing specialist Claudette Reichel says people have several ways to reduce the cost of cooling their homes. One of the easiest is to change air filters routinely before they become dirty and restrict airflow. She also recommends having your air conditioner serviced by a professional at least every other year. Another method for reducing costs involves reducing heat gain from the sun. The LSU AgCenter has the full story.
Going up: Living in an apartment? The Associated Press reports you should expect your rent to go up again this year. Renting has gotten increasingly expensive over the last five years. The average U.S. rent has climbed 14% to $1,124 since 2010, according to commercial property tracker Reis Inc. That’s 4 percentage points faster than inflation and more than double the rise in U.S. home prices over the same period. Now, even with a surge in apartment construction, rents are projected to rise yet another 3.3% this year, to an average $1,161, according to Reis. The main reason: More people than ever are apartment hunting. Read the full story.
