How to save water: 11 easy changes to make

These simple tips can help you keep one of the most precious resources on our planet and save money.


We all have an incentive to put our planet first, in particular with regard to essential resources such as clean water. However, it may be too easy to take the taps, taps, showers and toilets in our homes for granted: the average family is estimated to 180 water gallons per week —On or 9,400 gallons of water per year, according to the American environmental protection agency (EPA). And even in the short term, it can finish cost you dear On your water bill so as not to pay attention to your consumption. Fortunately, there are many options for all those who want to learn to save water and read money for easy changes, environmentally friendly and concerned about the budget you can bring, according to environmental experts.

In relation: 10 states with the cleanest tap water, the new data show .

1
Change your lawn maintenance routine.

Sprinkler for watering on the green lawn
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Keeping your court in search of your best involves a lot of work throughout the season, from planting to fertilization and everything else. However, experts say that daily maintenance is one of the worst guilty for the use of water in the United States

"Did you know that a third of the water that Americans use is to water our lawns and our gardens? It's nearly nine billion gallons of water per day," said Kate Colarli , responsible for strategic ideas at Clean energy .

If you are looking to get the most out of the pipe or the sprinkler and reduce consumption, remember to change the day of the day you use it. "Watering earlier in the morning works better so that more water is absorbed and less water evaporates in the heat," she said. "In addition, remember to install an intelligent nozzle system that adjusts depending on meteorological saturation and floors to help you save water and money."

There is also a way to transform showers into a renewable resource. "A barrel of rain can collect runoff water from your roof that you can use in your garden - getting you saving water and money!" She suggests.

If you worry about your vegetables and flowers that get the water they need, you may want to consider a brand new irrigation strategy. "The installation of a drain system is much more economical than the use of nozzles," explains Marek Bowers, founder of More daring . "Savings in water in gallons per hour are about 10 times with much more targeted watering. I have changed, and that even reduced my energy bill by 25%."

2
Reign your planting choices.

person wearing blue gloves planting in garden
Wertinio / Shutterstock

Establishing for the success of gardening does not include becoming more effective with your irrigation tactics. The biggest help can actually be to choose the right plants to make sure they don't fight to survive your local environment.

"Do research to make sure everything you plant is from your region," said Bowers. "Indigenous herbs and plants require less water and less nutrients and fertilizers to keep them flourishing."

And that will not only help reduce water: he adds that native plants also provide a vital habitat for wildlife and pollinators, promoting a healthy ecosystem in your region.

In relation: 7 completely natural ways to keep your garden without parasites, according to experts .

3
Review your laundry strategy.

A woman putting clothes into a washing machine
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Blanching is one of those tasks that seem to flee you if you do not remain constantly above. But if you have the priority with less water, it can pay to change your cleaning routine.

"It is tempting to wash small laundry loads, but it is much more economical in water to operate the washing machine than when it is full. So wait, wait until you have a full load of clothes to light this machine to wash, "said Ali Azimi , co-founder of Drip , an organization that deals with water problems in the fashion and textile industry.

It also warns against the use of fabric softeners during the washing cycle. "These products can make towels less absorbent. They can also build gunk in your washer, which makes the washer less efficient."

Azimi suggests vinegar, which softens clothes without chemicals, as an alternative.

4
Consider your wardrobe and clothing purchases.

A young man in a hat and glasses shops for clothes in a store
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It is not a secret for anyone that rapid fashion has been criticized to be unbearable and damaging to the environment. This is why making smarter choices on what you add to your wardrobe can have such a large long-term effect.

"Buy clothes made from organic cotton or other environmentally friendly fibers," explains Amizi. "Ordinary cotton is a fiber intensely eager for water to be produced." He explains that organic cotton, linen or hemp clothes will help reduce the amount of water that has been devoted to manufacturing them, especially if they come from fashion -concerned fashion companies.

He also suggests trying to buy clothes that use water -made water -made mold methods.

"The clothes dyeing is also a process with a high intensity of water. Look for clothes that have been produced using dying without water or a slightly liquid ratio to reduce your contribution to the use of water in the 'Textile industry, "he suggests.

5
… Or reduce your closet overall.

woman looking at organized closet
New Africa / Shutterstock

Although certain methods can be more durable than others, the most aware of the eco-subsone to approach fashion can be to buy less clothes overall.

"When you buy many" fast fashion "clothes, you contribute to the water on the textile industry," explains Azimi. "Buy less than number of better quality clothes."

Do you worry about staying in your budget while looking at your best? Azimi suggests a new and lasting approach from fashion to wear.

"There are a lot of rental services for clothing these days!" he says. "You can find them for specific clothes, such as party items or clothing adapted to the office."

He adds that many of these companies include washing in the context of their service, which should give you the peace of mind that clothes are washed in an industrial path - and probably more economical.

6
Go to taps and shower potatoes in water.

Pure water flows from faucet in kitchen
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One of the most effective solutions to reduce water waste goes directly to the source. In this case, this means updating your equipment in the house to make it more effective.

"On the taps, the aerators are easy to replace, and they mix the water with air, thus reducing the amount of water coming out of the tap", explains Nancy Landrum , PHD, professor of sustainability at Munich business school and the Global Hospitality Education rocks. "You can buy aerators at different levels of water efficiency - which is based on the flow of water gallons per minute, depending on the amount of water you want to save."

Shower potatoes can also be updated for certain significant results. "For example, an aerator or a 1.5 gallon shower head per minute (GPM) will use the triple of the water of a 0.5 gpm aerator or a shower head," said She.

7
Update the toilets of your home.

ceramic toilet in front of green wall
New Africa / Shutterstock

If you are really in revising the revision of the backup of water, updating the toilets of your home can also help reduce consumption. They can even be adapted to your needs: Landrum explains that there are different levels of water efficiency - or the flow of gallons by rinsing - to choose from the amount of water you want to save.

"The low -flow toilets use about 1.6 gallons of water per refinier (GPF), the ultra -with low speed toilets use approximately 1.28 GPF, the double wrestling toilets use approximately 0.8 GPF for liquids and 1 , 6 GPF for solids and water without water (composting) use not the water at all! "She says." In comparison, older toilets generally use 3.5 to 7 GPF. If you are curious, you can often find the water efficiency of your toilets stamped inside the tank or bowl. "

If you do not know which items will really have an impact, it may be better to ask for help or keep your eyes open during shopping.

"Look for the Watersense label on products that designates a product that is at least 20% more economical in water than a non-watersense certified product," she suggests.

In relation: 10 errors you make that keep your house cold, say the experts .

8
Try meals without meat throughout the week.

Vegetarian healthy meal in prep containers
Dropout

It may seem obvious that changing household appliances can help you reduce water consumption. But in the long term, even less obvious factors, such as your food decisions, can have a deep effect.

"Did you know that a beef book can take up to 4,000 gallons of water to produce? In comparison, a vegetable book requires only 39 gallons of water," explains Coarulli.

Isn't vegetarianism adapted to your physical needs or your lifestyle? You can always enjoy some of its advantages by planning one or two meals without meat every week, she said.

9
Use your dishwasher.

man filling up dishwasher with dirty dishes
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Cleaning after a meal can be an important source of waste. COLARULLI says that this is where a dishwasher is not only practical but also effective. AE0FCC31AE342FD3A1346EBB1F342FCB

"Wash the dishes by dishwasher saves almost 9,200 liters per year compared to hand washing," she said Better life . "In addition, the use of energy efficient devices can also save long -term energy."

Just make sure you timer your use to get the most mileage. "It uses the same amount of water to wash a full dishwasher load, so be sure to wash the dishwasher only when it is really full-and not every night out of habit!" said Azimi.

Even if you don't have a dedicated device, you can always start a beneficial habit. COLARULLI suggests blocking the sink and using it as a water basin during hand washing, as this will considerably reduce the amount of water used.

10
Do not forget to turn off the water flow in the moment.

A close up of a person turning off a faucet.
Bokeh Bandin Foundation / Shutterstock

Even if you use shower potatoes and effective taps, the quantity of wasted water during daily activities can really add up. This is why it is always better to stop water whenever you use it.

"It takes a surprising amount of energy to pump, heat, treat and move water," explains Coarulli. "Simple steps such as deactivating the tap when brushing teeth or taking shorter showers can add up and save a lot of water."

11
Find a surveillance application.

woman looking concerned at phone
Fizkes / Shutterstock

In the end, the amount of water you save can be summed up to find out how much you use. This is where technology can be useful.

"See if your water supplier has a customer application (like DropCountr) which allows you to compare your actual use of water with the average use of water in your neighborhood," explains Landrum. "Consciousness of the use of water often leads to the adoption of more economical water behaviors."


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