More and more people are understanding the importance of living as eco-friendly as possible. Making the most of our natural resources gives the environment a break—and it gives our wallet a break too! One of the ways to go green at home is by reducing our water usage. Let’s discuss some simple ways to step up your water conservation efforts.
How to Save Water via Appliances
Use Your Dishwasher
Believe it or not, washing your dishes by hand uses an average of four times more water than while using your dishwasher! Now you have a great excuse to skip washing dishes by hand—it’s better for the environment.
Water Conservation While Doing Laundry
Washers use plenty of electricity and water per load. Actually, newer models use between 15 and 30 gallons while older models use up to 45 gallons. Your best approach for saving water is to wash full loads only. For those times when you must wash a few pieces only, make sure to choose the express setting.
Use Energy Star Appliances
The majority of the latest appliances are ENERGY STAR certified. This designation implies that these models use much less water and electricity. Producing electricity involves utilizing plenty of water. Hence, we have the comfort of knowing that by saving electricity, we’re also helping water conservation initiatives.
Water Conservation in the Bathroom
- Conventional showerheads cycle through 5 gallons of water per minute or more. Use a low-flow showerhead, which uses water at about half that rate.
- Limit the duration of your showers as much as possible. Ideally, you can get in and out in under 10 minutes.
- Avoid brushing or shaving in the shower with the water running. However, if you prefer doing it this way, try shutting the water off while brushing
or in-between rinsing.
Water Conservation in the Outdoors
Aside from our water consumption in the home, about 25% of our water usage comes from outdoors. As a result, focusing on water conservation outside of the home makes an impact on your water footprint too. Consider the following:
- Water your garden when it’s cooler out to prevent the water from evaporating due to heat. This generally means early mornings or late evenings.
- If the local forecast calls for rain, that is a perfect time to turn your sprinklers off. Also, be on the lookout for automatic sprinklers that sense rain or moisture. In addition to making your life a heck of a lot easier, they also save water and money.
- Buy a pistol grip nozzle for your hose and use it at all times. Ultimately, this prevents you from wasting gallons of water while your hose runs needlessly.
Water Conservation Helps All of Us
In the end, we only have one planet. By focusing on water conservation efforts, you can take pride in knowing that you’re playing your role in helping the environment. All it takes are a few minor lifestyle adjustments and you could potentially see major reductions on your water bill.
Join Us for the Spring Up the Creek Event
Looking to play a more active role in water conservation efforts at Castle Rock? Be sure to join us for the ‘Spring Up the Creek’ event at Festival Park. The event takes place on May 4, 2019, starting at 9 AM.
The town of Castle Rock hosts the event in collaboration with local schools, businesses, media networks, and the community. Over 200 volunteers play their part by picking up trash and debris from the East Plum Creek and Sellars Gulch. Come and join our community effort to keep Castle Rock’s water clean and our town beautiful. We hope to see you there!