There are many ways to “go green” these days. From recycling to reusable grocery bags, you can reduce your footprint with ease. Water consumption might not be as intuitive a way to do so. It’s such a critical part of your life that it’s almost second nature to use it. You can retrain yourself to cut back on water usage. It’s good for the environment—and your wallet.
Learn How Much You’re Using
Start simply. Use a “water calculator” to figure out your water usage in all areas of life. That’s the first step in learning where you need to cut back. For example, if you get a high score in gardening, it might be smart to rethink that sprinkler on your lawn.
Harvest Rainwater
Harness the power of the water cycle. Rain barrels are a great way to capture water and reuse it throughout your home. There are many different models available. The best part? Many of them are very inexpensive to install. Some rain barrels are just simple plastic that you can place under your down spout. Many local plumbing contractors offer rainwater harvesting advice and techniques. If you want to get fancy and use rainwater throughout your house, you’ll need a larger model that also incorporates a more sophisticated filtration system. A leaf screen goes a long way towards that.
Conserve Energy with a Solar Water Heater
Using a solar heater dramatically cuts back on your heating bill. After all, there’s nothing more inexpensive than heat that comes straight from the sky. There are other benefits to installing one of these. It can cut back on your carbon footprint. Solar water heaters can also improve your water quality since water purification plants often use mercury in their systems.
Turn off the Faucet
This is probably one of the easiest ways to conserve water. Don’t leave the water running while you wash dishes or brush your teeth. This makes several gallons of water go right down the drain unused. It may be tempting to just enjoy the luxury of a long, hot shower. Try taking a “navy shower” instead by turning off the faucet in between using soap and washing your hair. Even cutting your shower time in half dramatically reduces your water consumption.
Don’t be intimidated by the scale of how much water you’re using. Every little drop counts. Identifying specific areas of heavy water consumption gives you clear action steps to improve. The earth will thank you.
