October is Energy Awareness month and askHRgreen.org wants you to focus on saving water as a way to save energy! By making small changes, you can make a big difference. When you cut back on the amount of water you use around the house, you will also reduce your energy bill and save money.
Did you know that leaving a faucet on for 5 minutes or a 60 watt light bulb on for 14 hours uses the same amount of energy? I didn’t. We never stop to think about how much energy it takes to collect, treat, and deliver safe, drinkable tap water to each home in Hampton Roads. And on top of the cost to get water to our homes, using water can also increase your energy bill. If your hot water is heated with an electric water heater then about 25% of your energy bill could be related to water use.
I’m sure you’ve heard about saving water with things like low flow fixtures or turning off the water while you brush your teeth. But not many people, including myself, have stopped to think about the energy savings that go hand-in-hand with saving water. Here’s what you can do this October to save water, energy and money!
In your home:
- Only run the washing machine or dishwasher when you have a full load. Or if your appliances allow you to adjust the water level, be sure to adjust the water level to match the load size.
- Take shorter showers! Aim for 5 minutes from start to finish. To be a super saver, take navy showers and shut off the water while you wash up.
- Leaky toilets are the main household water waster. Find and repair leaky toilets and faucets to prevent wasted water and energy.
- Replace old bathroom or kitchen fixtures with WaterSense certified products that are low-flow or flow restricting to save water and energy. Replacing one old showerhead with a new WaterSense showerhead can save 2,900 gallons of water and more than $70 per year in energy and water costs while saving enough energy to power a home for 13 days.
In your yard:
- Pick native or drought resistant plants to reduce the amount of watering you need to keep your landscape thriving.
- Install a rain barrel. Capturing rain water provides free water for outdoor uses with none of the costs of using water from your tap.
- Always use drip irrigation and mulch to make sure the watering you do reaches the plants roots and doesn’t vanish into thin air.