When buying a new dishwasher or washing machine, look for the ENERGY STAR rating. These will be more energy and water-efficient, saving money on water and electric bills. For dishwashers, skip pre-rinsing to save water and only run the dishwasher when it is full. For the washing … [Read more...] about Go with an ENERGY STAR rated dishwasher and washing machine, and only run it when full
Utility Bills
Switch to a low-flow toilet
Low flow toilets generally use less than two gallons per flush, compared to water-guzzling older models which can use five to seven gallons per flush. Over a year, that's a savings of around 7,000 gallons which can save you $50 to $100 annually (and $2,000 over the … [Read more...] about Switch to a low-flow toilet
Fix drippy sinks and leaky faucets
Drippy faucets are a sneaky money-drainer. More than 500 gallons of water per year are wasted on a faucet with a leak of 20 drips per minute (figure out your drip wastage at the U.S. Geological Survey website). These drips are usually caused by warping or other damage to a small … [Read more...] about Fix drippy sinks and leaky faucets
Aerate the faucets
Faucet aerators are an inexpensive but efficient way for saving water. They screw on to the bottom of faucets to reduce water flow, with no reduction in water pressure. Look at your faucets to see if aerators are already installed - they will have their flow imprinted on the … [Read more...] about Aerate the faucets
Be smart about water use in the kitchen and bathroom
Try simple changes in the kitchen and bathroom to save on water costs. If you have leftover water in bottles or from a saucepan used to boil potatoes or vegetables, use it to water the garden. Instead of rinsing frozen food under water to thaw it, just leave it out for an hour, … [Read more...] about Be smart about water use in the kitchen and bathroom