Simple tips for using less hot and cold water
Did you know that a faucet dripping only one drop per second wastes enough water in one month to fill six bathtubs? Roughly 25% of the energy used in a home is for heating water? Homeowners can save money, reduce energy use and diminish their impact on the environment by following these simple water-wise tips.
Wash clothes with cold water. Between 80 and 90 percent of the energy used to wash clothes is for heating the water. If all families switched to cold water washing, British Columbians would save $87 million.
Install low-flow showerheads. They can use 40 per cent less hot water than older models and can be installed in minutes.
Use faucet aerators. They mix air bubbles in the flow of water used for hand washing.
Keep a jug of water in the fridge rather than running the tap for cold water.
Last year we purchased a "wine tote" ($50) from a local importer and used it to collect rainwater for all our back yard watering. The tote holds a 1,000 litres of water - it collects (very quickly) runoff water from our roof through the downspout - we connected a hose & shut off valve and just that simply we had FREE water for the entire season for all our flower beds, patio pots and shrubs.