Living Greener by Saving Water - How to Conserve Water in the Bathroom
If you saw the latest installment in the James Bond movie series (Quantum of Solace), you may remember that the bad guys were trying to take control of the fresh water supply in a South American country.
This is not a far-fetched idea for a crime.
Fresh water is fast becoming a scarce resource in the world, causing supplies to be restricted or rationed in many places.
Fresh water is also going up in cost.
Taking steps to conserve water is an integral part of developing a greener lifestyle.
Focusing on just one room in your house-the bathroom-here are five easy things you can do that will conserve water and save you money as well.
1.
Fix all leaks immediately.
A dripping faucet or running toilet are wasting water around the clock.
The amounts add up quickly.
A toilet running 24-7can waste 10 gallons or more of water each day, which not only wastes water but also costs you money.
2.
Turn the water off while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.
There is no need to have the faucet running continuously while you do these things.
The amount of water you save could easily exceed 100 gallons per year per person.
3.
Limit your showers to 5 minutes.
Reducing shower time by just 2 minutes per day will save 10,00 gallons of water and about $40 per year.
To keep to your time limit, use a kitchen timer or other type of alarm.
Shorter showers also mean that you will save on the energy required to heat all that water.
Showers are also more efficient with water than baths.
4.
Reduce the amount of water per flush with the toilet.
Placing a milk jug filled with stones or sand will displace a half-gallon of water per flush, and the savings add up quickly.
Even better is to have a low-volume-flushing toilet installed.
Conserving water is an integral part of a greener lifestyle.
These suggestions will not only help you go green by conserving water and energy; they will also save you money.
5.
Collect the water that runs while you are waiting for your shower to warm up and use it to water your lawn and flowerbeds.
I admit this step requires more effort, but only a little bit, and it is worth the effort.
You will save money as well as water.
Here is a bonus tip for the future.
To reduce the need for water to flush your toilet, a new type of toilet has been developed that has a sink built into the top of the tank.
When you wash your hands, the water flows into the toilet tank and can be used for the next flush.
This is an ingenious green home design idea.
Such a toilet is already in use in Japan, and they should be appearing in the USA and elsewhere soon.
All five of the tips listed above will reduce the water you use in your bathroom.
Water you don't use is water conserved and water you don't have to pay for, saving you money as well.
Developing a greener lifestyle through simple, water-saving habits is good both for the environment and your pocketbook.
This is not a far-fetched idea for a crime.
Fresh water is fast becoming a scarce resource in the world, causing supplies to be restricted or rationed in many places.
Fresh water is also going up in cost.
Taking steps to conserve water is an integral part of developing a greener lifestyle.
Focusing on just one room in your house-the bathroom-here are five easy things you can do that will conserve water and save you money as well.
1.
Fix all leaks immediately.
A dripping faucet or running toilet are wasting water around the clock.
The amounts add up quickly.
A toilet running 24-7can waste 10 gallons or more of water each day, which not only wastes water but also costs you money.
2.
Turn the water off while brushing your teeth, shaving, or washing your face.
There is no need to have the faucet running continuously while you do these things.
The amount of water you save could easily exceed 100 gallons per year per person.
3.
Limit your showers to 5 minutes.
Reducing shower time by just 2 minutes per day will save 10,00 gallons of water and about $40 per year.
To keep to your time limit, use a kitchen timer or other type of alarm.
Shorter showers also mean that you will save on the energy required to heat all that water.
Showers are also more efficient with water than baths.
4.
Reduce the amount of water per flush with the toilet.
Placing a milk jug filled with stones or sand will displace a half-gallon of water per flush, and the savings add up quickly.
Even better is to have a low-volume-flushing toilet installed.
Conserving water is an integral part of a greener lifestyle.
These suggestions will not only help you go green by conserving water and energy; they will also save you money.
5.
Collect the water that runs while you are waiting for your shower to warm up and use it to water your lawn and flowerbeds.
I admit this step requires more effort, but only a little bit, and it is worth the effort.
You will save money as well as water.
Here is a bonus tip for the future.
To reduce the need for water to flush your toilet, a new type of toilet has been developed that has a sink built into the top of the tank.
When you wash your hands, the water flows into the toilet tank and can be used for the next flush.
This is an ingenious green home design idea.
Such a toilet is already in use in Japan, and they should be appearing in the USA and elsewhere soon.
All five of the tips listed above will reduce the water you use in your bathroom.
Water you don't use is water conserved and water you don't have to pay for, saving you money as well.
Developing a greener lifestyle through simple, water-saving habits is good both for the environment and your pocketbook.
