Alex Wilson states in his book Your Green Home, that water will be a far greater challenge to humanity in the 21st century than energy. Here are a few tips for living a little greener, saving a little water and saving money on your water bill.
If you could cut just one minute off of your daily shower, you would save 2,000 gallons of water per year. Install water saving shower head. These are relative inexpensive and easy to install.
If you have a one leaky faucet that leaks a drop of water per second, this is enough water to fill 16 bathtubs full of water per month. Fix Leaky faucets!!
If you have a swimming pool, cover the pool when it is not in use and save 15,000 gallons of water. This is the amount of water that evaporates yearly.
Install a new water efficient toilet. 30% of the water in most homes is flushed down the toilet. Many cities offer rebates on your water bill if you install a new water saving toilet. Don’t use your toilet for flushing trash like facial tissue or cigarette butts. If your can’t purchase a new water saving unit, put something in the water tank to take up the space of water, so your tank will stop filling sooner.
Don’t let the water run while you are brushing your teeth. Wet the brush then turn off the water. Turn it on again to rinse!
Don’t let the water run while you are shaving!
Don’t let the faucet run while you clean vegetables.
Run your dishwasher and clothes washer with full loads.
Don’t use running water to thaw anything frozen.
Keep a pitcher in your kitchen sink. If you need to let the water run to get hot, catch the water in a pitcher and water your plants with the “extra”.
Keep a bottle of water in the frig for drinking so that you don’t have to let it run from the faucet to get cold.
Don’t over water your lawn! Deep soak the lawn so that moisture will soak down to the roots where the water is needed most. When cutting your lawn, leave the grass at least 3” tall. This will promote water retention in the soil. Water early in the day (before 10:00) to prevent evaporation; don’t water when it is windy. Don’t allow your sprinklers to land on the sidewalks, or drive ways. When it is time to fertilize your lawn, apply the minimum amount of fertilizer needed. The fertilizer will make your lawn grown as well as increase the need for water.
Xeriscape your lawn, plant drought resistant shrubs and plants; many cities offer free classes on Xeriscaping. Use Mulch around trees and plats to hold water in.
When washing your car, don’t let the hose run, instead use a nozzle.
Install a rain shut-off device on your automatic sprinkles to eliminate unnecessary watering.
Place a bucket or barrel at down spouts to catch rain water. Use this water for watering your yard and plants.
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2 comments:
Hi Madison-
I wonder if now is the time to buy some stock in companies that invest in water conservation or water purification. I saw an interview on cnbc about a company that does reverse osmosis and they are profitable.
Scott
Great web site Madison. My daughter is a huge "planet saver" activist with a special interest in global warming. These changes aren't that hard to make. We owe it to our children's children.
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