Water is a precious resource. Yet, according to the Environmental Protection Agency, the average American family uses 300 gallons of water per day. While some of this water is used for essential activities like cooking and cleaning, a lot of it is wasted through activities like watering lawns and filling swimming pools.
If you're looking for ways to conserve water and do your part to protect this vital resources, here are 5 easy ways to save water around your home.
1. Check your toilets for leaks.
A leaking toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water per day, so it's important to fix any leaks as soon as possible. The easiest way to check for leaks is to put a few drops of food coloring in your toilet tank and wait 15 minutes. If the color appears in your bowl, you have a leak that needs to be fixed.
2. Don't let the water run while you're brushing your teeth.
According to the EPA, leaving the water running while brushing your teeth can waste up to 4 gallons of water every minute! That's more than 200 gallons of water per week for a family of four. To conserve water (and save money on your water bill), wet your toothbrush and turn off the faucet while you brush.
3. Upgrade your showerheads.
Most showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute—but high-efficiency showerheads use less than 2 gallons per minute while still providing a powerful spray. Upgrading just one showerhead in your home can save you more than 700 gallons of water per month! Families that upgrade all showerheads in their homes can save even more—an estimated 2,900 gallons per month. That’s enough savings to fill an Olympic size swimming pool! *Toilet flushing and clothes washing account for about 70% of indoor residential water usage according to [SIC].
4. Slow down when watering your lawn or garden.
Many people tend to overwater their lawns or garden which wastes an enormous amount of valuable water. Try this experiment next time you’re watering your lawn. Place an empty tin can or tuna fish can in the path of the sprinkler. After an hour has passed check how much water has collected in the can. This will give you an immediate indication if you’re overwatering. Reducing the amount of time you spend watering by half could save approximately 150 gallons each time.
5. Turn off all electronics and appliances when they are not being used.
Did you know that phantom power accounts for 25% of residential energy consumption? Phantom power occurs when you leave electronics and appliances plugged into outlets even when they’re turned “off." Cell phone chargers video game consoles and computers are just a few examples. When these devices are not in use unplug them from outlets. This simple measure alone could reduce your electricity consumption by as much as 100 kilowatts each year.
By making simple changes around your home, you can do your part to protect this vital resource. Have more tips? Please comment below.
Comments