NOTE FROM SWEET GREENS: This post, Water Conservation Saves the Earth and Saves Money was written by Jenna. Jenna is a freelance writer who writing focuses on eco-lifestyle, health and wellness.
Your home is one of the first places to start conserving natural resources and reduce your carbon footprint. Making sure your home is properly insulated not only keeps you warm during the cold months, the insulation, venting and weather stripping can also reduce your energy usage during the warmer months that are popping up ahead.
While energy conservation at home is super important, another area of concern is water conservation. The truth is that there is a shortage of fresh water on this planet. In fact, including municipal water supplies, less than three percent of the water on this planet could be considered fresh. Adopting water conservation practices now will not only preserve our water supply, it can also save you money. There are several ways to conserve water around your home. The two easiest ways are to modify the appliances and equipment that use water, and to modify your behavior.
Appliance and Equipment Modification
Appliance and equipment modification usually involves making changes to your plumbing, or to the devices that use water in your home. Even if you don’t own your home, or you live in an apartment, you can still make many of these changes:
- Upgrade Your Toilets
Prior to 1994, the average residential toilet used 3.5-to-5 gallons of water per flush. In 1994 all residential toilets were required to operate on 1.6 gallons or less. However, if you have an older toilet, you could still have a high-flush model. If you can’t replace the toilets, insert a displacement device into the upper tank to conserve your water use. A displacement device makes the water level appear higher than it is, similar to when you sit in a full bathtub and the water rises. Common displacement devices include bricks and water-filled plastic containers. If you want to add a bathroom to a space in your home that doesn’t have traditional plumbing – a Saniflo toilet could be the solution for you. - Install Special Aerators on Your Faucets and Showerheads
The aerator makes the water bubbly and provides good water pressure while simultaneously reducing the amount of water flowing through the faucet. So you can enjoy your shower, and actually rinse your hair, without using too much water. - Install Shower Timers
To reduce your time in the shower, and the amount of water down the drain use a timer when you jump in the shower. - Check and Repair All Leaks, Especially in the Toilet
Toilet leaks can send hundreds of gallons of water down the drain and cost you a lot of money in water and sewer fees. - Invest in High-Efficiency Washing Machines and Dishwashers
When it is time to replace the machines that you currently have choose machines are designed to clean effectively with the minimum amount of water.
Behavior Modification
Behavior modification is essentially changing the way you use water, here are 7 ways that will have you conserving water in no time:
- Take fewer showers during the week, if possible;
- Plug the bathtub drain, during your shower, and reuse the collected water to flush your toilet;
- Consider only flushing the toilet once a day, or when you have solid waste;
- Avoid running the water while shaving, brushing your teeth, or washing dishes;
- If you have a dishwasher, avoid running the washer when half empty;
- If you have a washing machine, adjust the water level based on the size of the load;
- Use rainwater for gardening, washing your car, and other outdoor uses.
YOUR TURN: How are you conserving water in your home?
