Tips on Reducing Water Usage
THREE EFFECTIVE WAYS TO REDUCE WATER USAGE
We let the water run and do not even realize we are doing
it. Our fixtures and old appliances use more water per minute than necessary. Read
on to discover three effective tips to save water.
Switch to Energy Star appliances
The idea behind Energy Star appliances is saving energy,
water, and preventing waste. The Energy Star seal approval is awarded to a
variety of products that meet strike government standards. Products receiving
the Energy Star approval include appliances, electronics, and building products.
For instance, a way to reduce your energy and water consumption
and costs is to switch to an Energy Star certified clothes
washer. According to the EPA, Energy Star
products use a quarter of the energy than a conventional clothes washer and use
about a third of the water. For a list of the Most Efficient clothes washers and partner sponsors that
provide rebates, visit the Energy Star website.
Energy Star certifies a variety of household appliances
including dishwashers, dehumidifiers, electronics, and lighting fixtures. Energy Star also offers
tips on sealing and insulating your home and how to maintain your
heating and cooling system. If you are still
uncertain about how to increase your home’s energy efficiency, then use the Energy Star Home
Advisor tool.
Retrofit and replace inefficient fixtures
The Energy Star Home Advisor tool probably suggest that you
retrofit your fixtures. Advances in technology allow us to conserve water and
electricity. We can add something new to our existing infrastructure and to
create an efficient and effective system.
You will save water if you replace your sink and tub faucets
with a low flow faucet. According to the EPA, low flow
faucets reduce water consumption while maintaining performance. You will save
700 gallons of water per year by using a WATERSENSE faucet.
After replacing your faucets, consider replacing your toilet
with a WATERSENSE
model toilet. By doing so, you can save 13,000 gallons of
water per year. Leaking toilets can cause waster hundreds of gallons of water a
week!
Use less water
There are several ways to reduce water waste without
spending money. One of the easiest ways is to take shorter showers. An average
shower takes eight minutes and uses 16
gallons of water.
Another easy way to save water is to turn the faucet off
while brushing your teeth. Each minute 1 gallon of water
comes out of newer faucets, 2 gallons for older faucets. Other ways to reduce
water use in the bathroom include take a shower instead of a bath, wash your
face with cold water instead of letting the water heat up, and turn water off while
shaving.
In the kitchen, you can reduce water use by using an EnergyStar
model dishwasher instead of handwashing your dishes. Per cycle, dishwashers use
on average between 6-16
gallons of water compared to handwashing, which uses on average 9-27 gallons of
water. If handwashing dishes is necessary, scrap off food first and do not let the
water run while washing the dishes.
Sources:
www.epa.gov/watersense/outdoor
https://www.viridescence.us/2017/06/water-wise-garden.html
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/when-its-hot
https://www.viridescence.us/2017/03/water.html
https://www.energystar.gov/about
https://www.energystar.gov/products
https://www.epa.gov/greeningepa/water-conservation-epa
https://coolcalifornia.arb.ca.gov/tip/water-lg
https://www.energystar.gov/campaign/assessYourHome
https://www.epa.gov/watersense/bathroom-faucets
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