THE RENAISSANCE NEWS April 2003 APARTMENT INSPECTION PROGRAM The Renaissance offers an apartment inspection service for absent owners who want to make sure that their vacant apartment is safe, and the plumbing and air conditioning systems remain in good working order. The cost is $7.00 for each inspection with an additional charge of $3.00 if plant watering is requested. Attached to this newsletter is a copy of the inspection program order form. If you would like to initiate an apartment inspection, please complete the form and give it to the Property Manager. HOT WATER ENERGY COSTS We have solicited proposals from local vendors to determine the feasibility and cost of using solar or other technology to reduce our dependence on the expensive natural gas that is used to heat the pool, spa and the hot water for the building. Initial indications are that the pool does not get sufficient sun exposure to consider solar as a source of pool heating. But heat pump technology might be successfully used to limit the use of natural gas and lower our very high energy bills. Solar assisted hot water heating also may be feasible, and we are hopeful that the proposals, which will include energy cost savings projections, will be worth considering. POWER FAILURES From time to time the electric power provided to the building by FPL fails. Outages can run from less than one second to several minutes. Fortunately, the Renaissance building has an emergency generator (located just outside the North garage exit) that automatically starts when electric power is interrupted, providing electrical backup power to critical building systems like the elevators and emergency lighting. The generator does not supply emergency electricity to apartments. Power outages can cause computer system problems, and it is usually recommended that in addition to using a surge suppressor, an Uninterruptable Power Source (UPS) should also be installed. UPS units contain a rechargeable battery that powers your computer for a few minutes when electric power fails, giving you time to close your files, complete your work and shut your computer down. In most cases the UPS also serves as a surge suppressor and as a power distribution strip. UPS units cost less than $100.00. GARAGE DOOR OPENERS Garage door remote controls are still available for purchase. Contact the concierge or visit http://RenCondo.com for details. MOVIE NIGHT The April movie is "Road to Perdition" starring Tom Hanks and Paul Newman. This is a mesmerizing tale of a father and son bound together by tragedy and betrayal. They are on an unforgettable journey of honor, vengeance and redemption as they confront overwhelming odds and forge an indestructible bond. The movie will be shown in the media room on Thursday, April 3 at 7:30 p.m. Popcorn and sodas will be provided. BALCONIES Please remember that balconies are not to be used for storage, and that they must be maintained in neat and clean condition. Also, please do not attach anything to the walls or railings of balconies. Residents may not drill or cut any window, wall, door frame, or caulking on the balconies. If you decide to tile a balcony, written approval must first be obtained from the Board of Directors. The installation must be supervised by the Building Engineer to ensure that the building watertight integrity is not compromised. Carpeting is not permitted on balconies because it can degrade the concrete. TRASH ROOMS Each trash chute door has an automatic lock that is activated when someone on another floor opens the chute door to deposit trash. A red light will come on to let you know that the door is locked. If you cannot open the chute door and you see that the red light is turned on, please do not leave trash on the floor. Wait a few moments for the door to unlock and you will be able to open the chute door and deposit your trash. GUEST ENTRY If a resident is expecting a guest to arrive after the doors to the building are locked, the guest can use the "Door King" telephone panel located outside the two main entrances to the building. The resident can speak with the guest and then press "9" on their touchtone phone to unlock the door. Since the guest will not hear the sound of the door unlocking, the guest should be told to pull the door handle to enter the building. Residents can view visitors by tuning their TV to cable channel 57. TRAVERTINE FLOORS The lobby floors and elevator floors will be serviced and polished during the evenings of April 9 through April 11. The Association has hired a service company to maintain and polish the floors every three months. SOUND SYSTEM The Association has purchased a sound system to be used at Board of Directors and Owner meetings. AUTHOR, AUTHOR! Do you have ideas that could make this Newsletter more interesting or more useful? Why not volunteer to help the Newsletter Committee, or better yet, volunteer to become the Editor? We need help in getting articles, features, and producing the monthly issue. If you have experience, and a little spare time, your assistance would be greatly appreciated. Please contact the Building Manager. |
