Easy Water/Electricity Saving Tips
Water Saving:
- Cook Smart. Peel and clean vegetables in a bowl of water instead of under running water.
- Slow the Flow. Install a slow-flow faucet to reduce water consumption up to 50 percent.
- Shorten Showers. Take short showers instead of baths, and consider using a shower timer. To make it fun for kids, turn it into a game to see who can get the most “squeaky clean” in under three minutes!
- Test Your Tank. Add 12 drops of food coloring to your toilet tank and wait an hour. Look to see if any color seeped through the tank, a fitting or into the toilet bowl. If so, you may have a leak.
- Let It Grow. Raise your lawnmower blade to at least three inches; taller grass holds soil moisture better.
- Sweep Up. Clean the driveway and sidewalk with a broom instead of a hose to save hundreds of gallons of water.
- Speak Up. When you see an open hydrant, errant sprinkler or broken pipe, tell the property owner, local authorities or your Water Management District.
- Look for Leaks. Read your water meter before and after a two-hour period when no water is used. If it doesn’t read exactly the same, you have a leak.
- Tap Out. Instead of letting the tap run until water gets cold, keep a pitcher of drinking water in the refrigerator, and use it to refill certified reusable water bottles instead of opting for single-use plastic ones.
- Tap In. Place a bucket in your shower to capture the water that runs while you’re waiting for it to get hot. Use the water to water plants.
- Watch for WaterSense. When you shop for plumbing fixtures, look for the Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense label, which means they meet strict criteria for efficiency and performance.3 Click here to learn more.
- Go to the carwash. Water in most car washes is reclaimed (re-used) so the total amount of freshwater used is reduced.
Energy Saving:
- Install these energy-efficient measures:
- Replace and recycle your old refrigerator and purchase energy-efficient models. Units only 10 years old can use twice as much electricity as a new ENERGY STAR® labeled model.
- Insulate ceilings to R-38 levels if your attic has less than R-19.
- Caulk windows, doors and anywhere air leaks in or out. Do not caulk around water heater and furnace exhaust pipes.
- Weatherstrip around windows and doors.
- Wrap heating and cooling ducts with duct wrap, or use mastic sealant.
- Install energy-saver shower heads.
- When buying new appliances, be sure to purchase energy-efficient ENERGY STAR® labeled models.
- Set the furnace thermostat at 68 degrees or lower, and the air-conditioner thermostat at 78 degrees or higher, health permitting. 3 percent to 5 percent more energy is used for each degree the furnace is set above 68 degrees and for each degree the air conditioner is set below 78 degrees.
- If your old air conditioner is on its way out replace it with ENERGY STAR® labeled energy-efficient model.
- Use compact fluorescent lamps. You can lower your lighting bill by converting to energy-efficient low-wattage compact fluorescent lighting and fixtures.
- Replace old windows with new high performance dual pane windows.
- Clean or replace furnace and air-conditioner filters regularly, following manufacturer's instructions.
- Set the water heater thermostat at 140 degrees or "normal." If you have a dishwasher. Otherwise, set it at 120 degrees or "low." Check your dishwasher to see if you can use 120 degree water. Follow the manufacturer's direction on yearly maintenance to extend the life of your unit.
- Fix defective plumbing or dripping faucets. A single dripping hot water faucet can waste 212 gallons of water a month. That not only increases water bills, but also increases the gas or electric bill for heating the water.
- Wash only full loads in a dishwasher and use the shortest cycle that will get your dishes clean. If operating instructions allow, turn off the dishwasher before the drying cycle, open the door and let the dishes dry naturally.
- Defrost refrigerators and freezers before ice buildup becomes 1/4-inch thick.
- Install shades, awnings or sunscreens on windows facing south and/or west to block summer light. In winter, open shades on sunny days to help warm rooms.
- Close the damper when the fireplace is not being used. Try not to use the fireplace and central heating system at the same time.
In the Bedroom
Turn off your electric blanket when you aren't in bed.
Don't leave on your computer, TVs, radios or games that use electricity when you're not using them.
Fight the Light!
Don't leave lights on when no one is in the room. If you are going to be out of the room for more than five minutes, turn off the light.
If you know of a light that everyone forgets to turn off, make a sticker or a sign to hang next to the switch that says "Lights Out!" or "Don't Forget!"
Where possible, use compact fluorescent light bulbs. Those funny-looking bulbs produce the same amount of light by using 1/4 of the electricity. Plus, they last for years and years without burning out.
Don't Leave Things Turned On
Turn off the TV when no one is watching it. The same goes for computers, radios and stereos - if no one using it, turn it off. Turn off all the appliances at the surge protector/control strip - that four- or six-plug extension cord that you plug all your computer things into. Some devices, like modems or other networking boxes are drawing small amounts of power all the time. Check with your folks first, but the best thing to do is turn them ALL off at the surge protector.
In the Bathroom
Wasting water wastes electricity. Why? Because the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it's been used!
About 75 percent of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. Unless you have a low flush toilet, for example, you use about five gallons to seven gallons of water with every flush! A leaky toilet can waste more than 10,000 gallons of water a year. Wow!
Drippy faucets are bad, too. A faucet that leaks enough water to fill a soda bottle every 30 minutes will waste 2,192 gallons of water a year.
Another simple way to save water AND energy is to take shorter showers. You'll use less hot water - and water heaters account for nearly 1/4 of your home's energy use.
In the Kitchen
A load of dishes cleaned in a dishwasher uses 37 percent less water than washing dishes by hand! However, if you fill up one side of the sink with soapy water and the other side with rinse water - and if you don't let the faucet run - you'll use half as much water as a dishwasher does. Doing the dishes this way can save enough water for a five-minute shower!
If you need to warm up or defrost small amounts of food, use a microwave instead of the stove to save energy. Microwave ovens use around 50 percent less energy than conventional ovens do. For large meals, however, the stove is usually more efficient. In the summer, using a microwave causes less heat in the kitchen, which saves money on air conditioning.
Don't keep the refrigerator door open any longer than you need to. Close it to keep the cold air inside! Also, make sure the door closes securely. There is a rubber-like seal around the door that you can test. Just close the door on a dollar bill, and then see how easy it is to pull out. If the dollar slides out easily, the door is probably leaking cold air from inside.
Focus on Energy has programs available with funding and helpful hints. Contact them at 1 - 608 - 230 - 7011
Info From:
http://energyquest.ca.gov/saving_energy/index.html
