How To Cut Back On The Amount Of Water You Use And Save Money

Water efficiency refers to using our water resources intelligently through utilizing water-saving technologies and taking simple steps around the house. When water is used efficiently it helps to ensure reliable water supplies for future generations as well as now. Best of all, we can all play our part in helping to preserve the water resources of our country. You will find that it is easy to do by checking out the information tools and simple steps below.

Save Inside

There are many things that you can do inside your house to help reduce your water usage and get more out of less. To get started, just follow our easy tips below.

Repair Leaks

Even small leaks in your house can add up to losing gallons of water on a daily basis. This is why WaterSense recommends homeowners check their irrigation systems and plumbing fixtures in March every year during Fix a Leak Week.

Inside your bathroom - where more than fifty percent of all water usage in a house occurs:

Turn the tap off while brushing your teeth or shaving.

Less water is used taking a shower than a bath, as long as you pay attention to how long you've been in there.

In your kitchen - there are big water savings to be had here.

When you wash dishes by hand, use a washbasin or plug the sink up.
Use a dishwasher. Make sure it is completely full before you run it.
Instead of rinsing your plate before putting it inside the dishwasher, scrape it off.
Instead of running your faucet until the water is cold, keep a pitcher of water inside your refrigerator.
Thaw foot inside your refrigerator overnight instead of running hot water from the tap.
Instead of using a garbage disposal, place your food waste on a compost pile.

In your laundry room - where it is possible to be both clean and green:

Make sure to use the appropriate load size selection or water level on your washing machine or only wash full loads.
Use cold water instead of warm or hot water on your washing machine to save on your energy bills.

Save Outside

Out of the approximately 29 billion gallons of water that are used every day by US households, almost 30 percent or 9 billion gallons are used outdoors. In dry climates or during the hot summer months, outdoor water usage for households can be as much as 70 percent.

In your yard - be efficient and beautiful:

Create an efficient and beautiful water-smart landscape to provide your home with the curb appeal that you want.
Timing is critical! Knowing how much and when to wae will allow you to maintain a healthy landscape.
It is always a good time to spruce up your sprinklers and check to make sure that your system is working properly.
If you are currently using an in-ground irrigation system, upgrade it to a WaterSense labeled controller.
Have a certified irrigation professional audit, maintain, or install your irrigation system to make sure it waters at its peak efficiency.

Other outdoor water uses - avoid using the hose and keep things covered:

Sweep your steps, sidewalks, and driveways instead of hosing them off.
Wash your car using water in a bucket or use a commercial cash wash where the water is recycled.
If you own a pool, cover it up when you are not using it to reduce evaporation.

When it is hot, drop it:

During the summer months when you use more water take action to cut down on water waste. If your area declares a drought, take extra efforts to save even more water.

Save Energy

A great deal of energy is needed to treat and deliver the water that you use on a daily basis for cleaning, cooking, shaving, and bathing. For example, houses that have an electric water heater, spend twenty-five percent of their electric bills simply to heat water. For example, allowing your faucet to keep running for five minutes will use about the same amount of energy as running a 60-watt lightbulb for about 14 hours.

Watts & Drops: They Go Together

A great deal of energy is used to transport each gallon of water that you use from a source of drinking water to the treatment plant where the water is made safe to drink. After leaving the treatment plant, additional energy is needed for the water to be carried through the water pipes and into your house.

The average annual energy that is used for delivering and treating water for just 10 homes could power one refrigerator for over two years. In certain parts of the country, that is a very low estimate. Heating water for cleaning, cooking, shaving, bathing, and showering also requires a lot of energy. For example, houses with electric water heaters spend twenty-five percent of their electric bills on heating water.

Installing water-efficient products is the easiest way to save both energy and water. WaterSense labeled products help to reduce energy bills in addition to saving water. For example, it only costs a few dollars to install WaterSense labeled faucet aerators inside your bathroom, but can save enough electricity for you to dry your hair on a daily basis for an entire year!

Did You Know?

To create water also takes water. Huge amounts of water are used for cooling power plants that produce electricity. It takes 3,000-6,000 gallons of water in order to power one 60-watt incandescent lightbulb for 12 hours over one year.