5 No-Brainer Ways to Conserve Water
Sure, conserving water is good for the planet—but it can also help keep your budget from drying up. There are a number of easy, convenient ways you can cut down on water usage at home:
- Don’t leave faucets running. Thaw frozen foods in the refrigerator instead of under running water in the sink (this promotes food safety, too). If you’re washing dishes by hand, fill one sink with rinse water, rather than running to rinse. Turning the water off while you’re brushing your teeth can save up to 25 gallons a month, and turning the shower off while washing your hair saves up to 150 gallons a month.
- Practice conservative lawn watering. Most plants, like grass, suffer more frequently from over-watering than under-watering. You should only need to water your lawn once every two weeks, or weekly if the weather is especially dry. The best time of day to water is an hour or two before sunrise—once the sun is up, water evaporates faster. Don’t water when it’s windy, as the wind scatters the water and makes your efforts inefficient.
- Adjust appliance usage. Wait to run your dishwasher or washing machine until you have a full load of dishes or clothes. Also, check out your refrigerator and air conditioner—if they’re cooled with water, consider upgrading to air-cooled models.
- Take it easy on the garbage disposal, which uses gallons of water to break down waste. Instead, consider composting your leftovers. Most food waste can be added to a compost pile, and there are plenty of other things that can be recycled into rich, natural soil for your lawn or garden. Check out this list of over 163 items that can be composted.
- Check all of your faucets and plumbing on a regular basis for leaks, which can waste several gallons in a short time. Don’t forget to check outdoor water fixtures like faucets, sprinklers, garden hoses, and pool pumps. Leaks not only waste water and drive your water bill higher, they also hike up your energy bill—especially if you have a hot water leak.
Conserving water is easy, and there are many benefits to putting practices like these into use. What are you doing to save water around your home?