As I study for my EcoBroker certification I come across so many great resources for consumers. Thought I would share this one from the EnergyStar.gov web site.
- Stop leaks. Check all water-using appliances, equipment, and other devices for leaks. Running toilets, steady faucet drips, home water treatment units, and outdoor sprinkler systems are common sources of leaks.
- Replace old toilets. The major water use inside the home is toilet flushing. If your home was built before 1992 and you haven’t replaced your toilets recently, you probably could benefit from installing high efficiency toilets that use 1.6 gallons or less per flush. A family of four can save 14,000 to 25,000 gallons of water per year by making this change.
- Replace old clothes washers. Washers are the second largest water user in your home. If your clothes washer is old, you should consider replacing it with an ENERGY STAR certified clothes washer. Most ENERGY STAR clothes washers use four times less energy than those manufactured before 1999. To save more water, look for a clothes washer with a low water factor. The lower the water factor, the less water the machine uses. Water factor is listed on the Product Finder.
- Plant the right plants. Whether you’re installing a new landscape or changing the existing one, select plants that are appropriate for your climate and use a suitable landscape and irrigation design. Consider landscaping techniques designed to create a visually attractive landscape by using low-water and drought-resistant grass, plants, shrubs, and trees. If maintained properly, climate appropriate landscaping can use less than one-half the water of a traditional landscape.
- Provide only the water plants need. Automatic landscape irrigation systems are a home’s biggest water user. To make sure you’re not over-watering, adjust your irrigation controller at least once a month to account for changes in the weather and install a rain shutoff device, soil moisture sensor, or humidity sensor to better control irrigation.
For more information on how you can save water, visit EPA’s Using Water Efficiently: Ideas for Residences.