HRWC’s TOP TEN for saving water and energy inside your home!
Replace showerheads that have a flow rate greater than 2.5 gallons per minute.
If the shower head is not labeled, the flow rate can be checked by catching the water in a 1-gallon bucket. If it takes less than 24 seconds to fill up, the showerhead flow rate is more than 2.5 gpm.
You can save even 20% more by installing a WaterSense labeled showerhead. Those that earn the EPA WaterSense program label must demonstrate that they use no more than 2.0 gpm. The WaterSense label also ensures that these products provide a satisfactory shower that is equal to or better than conventional showerheads on the market.
Take shorter showers.
Reducing your 10-minute shower to 5 minutes saves 12.5 gallons of water if the showerhead has a flow rate of 2.5 gallons per minute (even more if your showerhead has a higher flow).
Replace toilets installed before 1994 with high-efficiency toilets.
Replacing a toilet that uses 2.5 gallons per flush (gpf) with an HET that uses 1.28 gpf will save 2.22 gpf. Some older toilets use as much as 7 gpf.
Recent advancements have allowed toilets to use 20 percent less water than the current federal standard, while still providing equal or superior performance. WaterSense labeled HET’s use no more than 1.28 gpf and are certified by independent laboratory testing to meet rigorous criteria for both performance and efficiency.
Install efficient faucet aerators and faucets that use a maximum of 1.5 gallons per minute.
EPA’s WaterSense program labels efficient bathroom sink faucets and aerators that use a maximum of 1.5 gpm.
Turn off the water when soaping hands, shaving, or brushing teeth.
Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can alone save 8 gallons per day.
Choose a high efficiency clothes washer with a low water factor when it’s time to replace your machine.
Washing laundry is a large water user in the average home; accounting for 15% to 40% of the overall water consumption inside the typical household of four persons. A standard washer will use approximately 40 to 45 gallons of water per load. New High Efficiency Washers (HEW’s) can use as little as 15 gallons per load.
Be sure to check the ENERGY STAR clothes washer product page for efficiency ratings and savings calculators.
Clothes Washer information: Alliance for Water Efficiency, Energy Star, H2ouse, Welcome Home Baby (an article on saving water, energy and money with an ENERGY STAR qualified high efficiency clothes washer).
Install an efficient dishwasher.
Advances in dishwasher technology make it possible to wash dishes using less water than in older models. ENERGY STAR qualified dishwashers are required to use 5.8 gallons of water per cycle or less. Older dishwashers use much more water than newer models. A dishwasher purchased before 1994 uses more than 10 additional gallons of water in each cycle compared to a new ENERGY STAR qualified model.
Be sure to check the ENERGY STAR dishwasher product page for efficiency ratings and savings calculators.
Always wash a full load.
Maximize the water and energy efficiency of both your clothes washer and your dishwasher.
Check for and fix leaks.
Did you know that an American home can waste, on average, more than 10,000 gallons of water every year due to running toilets, dripping faucets, and other household leaks? Pay attention to your water bill, it will often be abnormally high if there is a leak.