Water. It’s one of our most precious resources, and luckily, we are blessed to have fairly ample supply.
At the same time, the average home consumes a large amount of water everyday that doesn’t need to be used. Simple fixes in your home can help you cut your water usage and reduce your water bill.
Partnering with an experienced remodeler like T.W. Ellis makes these projects even easier. T.W. Ellis is an accredited green builder/remodeler, with certifications from both the National Green Building Standard (NGBS) and National Association of Home Builders (NAHB).
Read on to see just a few of the changes you can make. Your remodeling partner can help you find even more ways to save water.
Change your behavior
One of the easiest and least expensive ways to reduce your water usage is to address your family’s behavior. For example, simple actions like taking shorter showers or turning off the water while brushing teeth or shaving can make a big difference. If you like to have cold water for drinking, and don’t have a dispensing system in your refrigerator, consider chilling water in the refrigerator instead of running water and waiting for it to get cold.
Check for leaks
Another easy solution: fix any leaking fixtures or pipes. It may seem like a little drip is no big deal, but according to the U.S. Department of Energy, fixing one leak can save up to 20 gallons of water a day. Be sure to have your water heater regularly checked for leaks as well and to have it flushed annually to maintain optimal efficiency.
Replace your toilets
Toilets are the biggest source of water usage in the home. If your toilets were installed in the early 1990s or earlier, that’s even more true. Even more recent toilets may not be as efficient as the latest models on the market today, which use 1.28 gallons per flush. Older models may use more than 5 gallons per flush, so the savings is readily apparent. Look for a model that is certified by the EPA’s WaterSense program.
Install low-flow fixtures
WaterSense labeled showerheads, faucets and fixtures use at least 20 percent less water than older models – and many can cut usage almost in half. That can mean thousands of gallons of water saved every year. If replacing all your fixtures isn’t an option, installing less expensive low-flow aerators water usage as well.
Water-saving appliances
Clothes washers, dishwashers, and other appliances can all be big users of water. Replacing aging appliances with Energy Star-certified models can save water and energy.
The average family does 300 loads of laundry a year. With Energy Star-certified clothes washers reducing water usage by 35 percent, that can make a big impact.
You can make a similar impact with other appliances. When it comes to dishwashers, newer models are very efficient and data from the EPA shows that proper use of a dishwasher will save thousands of gallons a year over handwashing dishes. Ready to make some changes to reduce your costs and water consumption? Contact T.W. Ellis today!
