Energy Saving Tips for Water Usage

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We use water for drinking, cooking, washing, and many more of our daily activities, so it is no surprise that roughly 19% of the energy used by the average American household, only second to space heating and cooling, involves water usage.

Throughout the Home

Check your faucets periodically and repair those that are leaky, especially the hot water faucets
Use energy saving appliances, these are very popular and you will be amazed at how much you can save!

The Hot Water Heater

Drain a few gallons of water from your hot water heater every six months to remove sludge from the bottom; This will help keep the heating process efficient
If you are going to be gone from your home for more than two days, turn down or shut off the water heater
Replace a water heater more than ten years old with a higher efficiency model; older models have a level of efficiency no higher than 50%

In the Kitchen

Fill one side of the sink with soapy water and the other with rinse water to do dishes and don’t run the faucet in between; This can save you enough water to take a five minute shower
Use the sprayer instead of the faucet
Chill water in the refrigerator instead of running the faucet until the water is cold enough

In the Bathroom

The average toilet uses five to seven gallons per flush; a leaky toilet is crucial to repair, as it can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water per year!
Install low-flow faucets and showerheads , the federal efficiency standard imposed on new showerheads now being sold in the country is 2.5 gallons per minute
A bath uses 15-25 gallons of water, by taking a five minute shower you can save up to 15 gallons of water, so limit the amount of time you spend in the shower

Outdoors

Use a broom instead of a hose to clean decks, patios, etc.
Hand-water gardens and plants; This can save you 1/3 the amount of water used in running a sprinkler
Position sprinklers so that they are not watering the sidewalk or driveway when rotating