Conserving water at home seems daunting to many: will you need to take large measures like washing laundry by hand and hanging it on a clothesline to dry? How would you find time to conserve water in your busy schedule? Fortunately, it’s easy to conserve water and save money, all without changing your overall lifestyle; all it takes are some small changes and money saving tips to make your house a more green home.
1. Turn Off the Faucet
Conserving water can be as easy as turning off the faucet while you brush your teeth, do dishes, or wash your hands. Approximately two gallons of water flow from a faucet each minute, meaning a homeowner who is conscious of their running taps can save around 2,000 gallons of water each year from brushing their teeth, doing dishes, and washing their hands, alone.
2. Take Shorter Showers
Taking shorter showers is another small change that can help save money and contribute to water conservation. A typical fifteen-minute shower will use around 30 gallons of water, adding up to approximately 11,000 gallons of water each year. Taking a shower half that length would cut that yearly usage to about 6,000 gallons of water, saving you around $50 annually.
3. Check for Leaks
This home improvement tip may seem like a no-brainer, but it is important to frequently check for water leaks in your home and get them fixed by a local contractor as soon as possible. A water leak in an air conditioning unit, for example, can result in the loss of water inside your home that can significantly affect home health by causing mold growth, water damage, etc. Staying on top of a water leak and hiring a local contractor may cost you upfront, but can save you money and hassle in the long run.
4. Water Local Plants with Recycled Water
If you are an indoor plant enthusiast or have your own lawn or garden, saving excess water to water your plants is a wonderful option for water conservation and money saving. Did you make spaghetti for dinner last night? Save the starchy water and use it to water your plants! Not only will you be saving water, but your plants will thrive from the nutrients the starchy pasta water gives. You can also save soapy bathwater or dishwater to water plants—the soap will help deter harmful pests.
5. Invest in a High-Efficiency Washer
This one doubles as a home improvement tip! Buying a high-efficiency washer will cost you money upfront, but the long-term savings (and increase in home health and value) will save you money and water in the long run. On average, high-efficiency washers use 80% less water than a standard washer, adding up to significant savings over the years.
Utilizing these water and money saving tips will result in big changes for little effort. Anyone can make their house into a green home simply by being conscious of water consumption and caring for the environment.
For more tips and to get an estimate from a local contractor for your water conservation projects, contact us today!
