WaterSense Archives - Big Green Purse https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/tag/watersense/ The expert help you need to live the greener, healthier life you want. Sat, 28 Nov 2020 12:52:17 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 8 Inexpensive Ways to Green Your Rental Apartment (& Save Money Doing It) https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/how-to-green-your-rental-apartment/ https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/how-to-green-your-rental-apartment/#respond Thu, 16 Mar 2017 18:02:51 +0000 https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/how-to-green-your-rental-apartment/ Are you wondering how you can live the green life you want if you’re renting an apartment rather than living in a space you own? We’ve teamed up with apartment search website RENTCafe to bring you these great ideas for enjoying an eco-friendly lifestyle in an apartment, condo, or home you rent. How to Green …

8 Inexpensive Ways to Green Your Rental Apartment (& Save Money Doing It) Read More »

The post 8 Inexpensive Ways to Green Your Rental Apartment (& Save Money Doing It) appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>

Are you wondering how you can live the green life you want if you’re renting an apartment rather than living in a space you own? We’ve teamed up with apartment search website RENTCafe to bring you these great ideas for enjoying an eco-friendly lifestyle in an apartment, condo, or home you rent.

How to Green Your Rental Apartment

 If you live in an apartment, you’ve likely made several changes to the décor to help suit your style.

But if you aren’t also making green improvements to your home, then it may not be as healthy or as energy efficient as it could be.

And while you may think that creating a more eco-friendly home isn’t possible as a renter, there are several ways you can green your rental apartment to save money and make it more comfortable to live in at the same time.

BONUS! You can get these done in one day and reap the benefits for a long time!

how to green your rental apartmentInvest in Drapes

The biggest source of energy loss in most homes is right around the window area. Even with double paned windows, if the area surrounding them isn’t well sealed, you could still be losing a lot of the energy you use to heat and cool your apartment.

By investing in good quality, thermal drapes, you can help stop this energy loss, eliminating drafts and making your apartment more comfortable at the same time.

As a bonus, most thermal drapes are also light blocking, so you can control how much sunlight your apartment gets – perfect for weekends when you want to sleep in.

By the way, if you install floor-to-ceiling drapes, you can easily take them with you when you move. They’ll fit other windows.

 

how to green your rental apartmentSwap Out Your Lightbulbs

Even if the light fixtures in the apartment need to stay as they are you can still lower your energy bill an get better ambient light at the same time by investing in new LED lightbulbs.

LEDs use far less energy than incandescents and last for at least a dozen years!

Plus, they can give off more lumens per watt (which means they produce more light for less energy), so you can get a brighter living area while saving energy at the same time.

Here’s how to choose the right LED for your apartment.

 

Replace Your Water-Wasting Showerhead for a WaterSense Model

how to green your rental apartmentIt may be best to leave the main faucets and toilet in your apartment alone and encourage your landlord to make them more water efficient. But it’s easy to replace your shower head with a low-flow WaterSense model. Just look for the WaterSense logo, pictured right, when you shop.

Older shower heads use as many as 7 gallons of water a minute. New water saving units that meet EPA’s WaterSense standards use around 2 gallons. WaterSense technology helps make up the difference by spinning the water droplets as they leave the head, making the shower feel fuller.

You’ll reduce your water bill, paying for the modest cost of the shower head in no time.

how to green your rental Plug Into Power Strips

Many appliances end up sucking up energy even when they aren’t on or in use.

Sometimes known as “energy vampires,” these appliances and devices add a lot to your monthly energy bill.

To help save energy and money, put a power strip at each outlet, then plug your standby devices like lamps, televisions, gaming sets, and computers into these.

When you’re not using any of the items, turn off the power strip to stop the energy drain.

FYI, here’s one of the power strips I have my video monitor and Roku plugged into.

Purify the Air

If your apartment was painted in the last five years, chances are that it’s still giving off VOCs or volatile organic compounds, into the air. The effect is worse the closer you get to the time the paint was applied. In fact, about 50% of the how to green your rental apartmentVOCs are given off in the first year after the room was painted, with the rest “off-gassing” over the next four.

Plus, you might use air fresheners or cleaning products that are filled with synthetic fragrances, chemical compounds that can cause head aches, flu-like symptoms, and even trigger asthma attacks.

To help clean the air you breathe and eliminate some of those harmful toxicants, first switch to no VOC paint when you repaint.

In place of air fresheners, remove the sources that stink (like rotting food, dirty clothes, pet waste), circulate fresh air, and make potpourri out of fragrant natural herbs and dried flowers.

Use baking soda, vinegar, and fresh squeezed lemon juice for most cleaning projects. Open boxes or bowls of baking soda can also help absorb unwanted odors.

Monitor what’s in your air using a system like HomeLab’s, which will tell you what chemicals you’re breathing, and how you can turn your space into a healthy home.

how to green your rental apartmentAdd Some Plants

Air purification systems aren’t the only way to clean up the air in your apartment and make it healthier; adding plants can make a big difference as well.

Greenery like English Ivy, rubber plants, and peace lilies clean the air in your home and enhance your décor, too.

Place plants in areas that may need air cleansing the most, such as kitchens, bathrooms, and bedrooms and breathe a little easier.

In my living room, I have a big peace lily. It gets beautiful white flowers once or twice a year.

 

how to green your rental apartmentCheck and Replace Your HVAC Filter

If you have a furnace, central air conditioning unit, or HVAC system that uses ducts to heat or cool your apartment, make sure that you’re checking and cleaning the filter at least once per season (some companies recommend changing or cleaning filters monthly).

When the filter gets clogged, it causes the unit to work harder, spiking your energy bill.

If you aren’t sure if the filter needs to be changed, hold it up to the light; if you can’t see through it, it should be cleaned.

NOTE: You don’t need to buy a new filter every month; get one that’s reusable and wash it by spraying it with a hose or running it under a faucet. Just make sure it dries thoroughly before re-installing it. You can keep an extra on hand so you always have one to clean and one to replace it with.

how to green your rental apartmentDecorate Using Vintage and Recycled Furnishings

From rugs and bed frames to sofas, dining room tables and lamps, you can find great bargains and repurpose gently used (and sometimes brand new) furniture rather than buy brand new.

In addition to CraigsList.com, eBay.com and Freecycle.com, browse the listings at NextDoor.com, a site that makes it easy for neighbors to swap from each other or buy at a reasonable price.

Thrift stores, auction houses, estate sales and vintage shops (think antiques) are more great – and eco-friendly – places to shop.

Here’s one of the rugs I have in my home. When I got it 15 years ago it was already at least 60 years old.

 

Go Green

It doesn’t take much to green your rental apartment and make it healthier and more eco-friendly. Implement any of these changes and you’ll see the benefits in no time.

What Do You Do?

What else do you do to green your rental apartment? Please share!

Note: Partnerships enable us to bring you expert content at no additional cost to you. Our editorial opinions remain our own. Thanks!

 

The post 8 Inexpensive Ways to Green Your Rental Apartment (& Save Money Doing It) appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/how-to-green-your-rental-apartment/feed/ 0
14 Smart Ways to Water Your Garden During a Heat Wave https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/14-smart-ways-water-garden-during-heat-wave/ https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/14-smart-ways-water-garden-during-heat-wave/#comments Wed, 20 Jul 2016 17:43:24 +0000 https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/14-smart-ways-water-garden-during-heat-wave/ What are the smartest ways to water your garden during a heat wave? Is it so hot outside, your garden is wilting even before the sun rises or after it sets? Mine sure is!!  The only hope is to keep your vegetables and bushes watered. But how can you do that without spending all your time holding …

14 Smart Ways to Water Your Garden During a Heat Wave Read More »

The post 14 Smart Ways to Water Your Garden During a Heat Wave appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>

What are the smartest ways to water your garden during a heat wave?

Is it so hot outside, your garden is wilting even before the sun rises or after it sets? Mine sure is!!  The only hope is to keep your vegetables and bushes watered. But how can you do that without spending all your time holding a hose? And all your dollars on a high water bill? Big Green Purse collaborated with Gilmour, which makes a very reliable garden hose, to offer you this list of smart ways to water your garden during a heatwave to help you out.

There are two secrets to water your garden during a heat wave:

  1. The equipment you use
  2. When and how you water

Here are 14 of the best, smartest ways to water your garden without wasting a lot of H2O or time.

rush-780856_6401. Check your sprinkler and hoses for leaks.

“A leak as small as the tip of a ballpoint pen can waste 6,300 gallons of water,” says the U.S. EPA’s Watersense program.

It’s easy to spot a leaky hose because water shoots out of the hole. Sprinklers will spray around the place where they attach to the hose rather than send all the water through the sprinkling mechanism.

Next time you turn on the water, take a quick look. If you see a hose spurting, patch it up with duct tape. If your sprinkler is squirting, tighten the nozzle where the hose attaches to the sprinkler.

2. Let it drip.

Not your faucet. A drip irrigation system, which delivers water directly to the bottom of the plant so it can easily seep into the ground and moisten the roots. Though landscaping companies can install snazzy systems, you can also set one up yourself less inexpensively. Take a look at what Dripworks has to offer, for starters.

3. Use a timer.

If you want to set up your sprinkler and then go about your daily routine, use a timer to automatically turn the water off after a certain amount of time.

4. Can it.

A watering can or pitcher can be the perfect way to water newly planted seeds and seedlings. Using a pitcher, you can deliver the right amount of water to each seedling. Gently sprinkle water overhead to moisten the soil.

5. Try a rain barrel.

Set up a rain barrel next to a shed, garage, or your home, and capture rain water coming off the roof. You can put a rain barrel on each corner of the building if you want. Use the spigot on the bottom of the barrel to drain water into a watering can, or attach a hose. Rain barrels come in handy when rainfall is scarce and you don’t want to use your home water source to keep your garden alive.

This is Helpful! If You Don’t Have a Rain Barrel, You’re Losing Water and Money

rainbarrel post

6. Use your cooking water.

If you steam or boil vegetables, use the nutrient-rich water after it’s cooled to nourish your plants. This works easily for plants you have on your patio or porch.

fish-tank-632759_6407. Reuse fish tank water.

Do you have a pet fish whose tank you empty? That water will be full of nitrogen and phosphorous, great for some plants.

8. Water early in the morning and when it’s not windy.

Water early in the morning and when it’s not windy. The morning is the best time to water grass as it gives the water a chance to seep into the ground rather than evaporate in the hot sun or blow away from the plants that need it. If you have to water during the day, water plants that are in the shade as opposed to those in full sun.

9. Mulch.

A two-inch thick covering of shredded pine bark, composted leaves, or other organic materials will help the ground retain water and reduce evaporation.

worm-1288092_64010. Try worm poop.

“Vermicomposting” is the process of using worm castings (poop) to increase the organic content of the soil, which will help it retain moisture. You can add the castings themselves. Or you can let worms do the job in place.

You probably don’t want to introduce worms to your garden when it’s miserably hot and dry outside, but you can plan on adding them next spring. The more compost and organic matter you add to your soil, the more likely it will be attract worms and keep them alive.

 

You Want Me to Try Worm Poop? Yeah, Really…

worm castings

 

11. Dig in some compost.

Like worm poop, well-decomposed organic compost helps the soil stay loose and retain moisture, which is great for plant roots. If your soil is primarily clay, it won’t hold water at all. If it’s too sandy, the water will drain away. Compost builds great soil that retains moisture and adds other nutrients that plants need.

Don’t Miss: Compost: Crack for the Garden!

compost to reduce food waste

 

12. Xeriscape.

Plant flowers, vegetables, and bushes that do well in the amount of rainfall that falls in your region in an average year. Once established, these plants should require little additional water. Here are some sources for regionally-appropriate plants to choose from.

hosta-837182_64013. Group plants according to their water needs.

For example, impatience need a lot of water; hostas, not so much. Make a beautiful color statement by grouping all of your impatience together, which will make them easier to water with one fell swoop.

14. Reduce slope erosion.

If you have hills or steep banks, strategically place boulders or ties to help reduce runoff, or landscape into terraces to stop water from slurrying off the hill rather than seeping into the ground.

How else do you water your garden during a heat wave?

NOTE: Collaboration with partners like Gilmour enable us to bring you the expert content you need to live the greener lifestyle you want. All editorial opinions remain our own. 

The post 14 Smart Ways to Water Your Garden During a Heat Wave appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/14-smart-ways-water-garden-during-heat-wave/feed/ 2
Are You Using Your Secret Weapon to Save Water? https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/water-saving-toilet-2/ https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/water-saving-toilet-2/#comments Wed, 06 Apr 2016 17:23:36 +0000 https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/water-saving-toilet-2/ It’s time to treat your toilet like the special secret water-saving weapon it is! Throughout the month of April, which is officially “Earth Month,” and leading up to Earth Day, we’re going to be featuring companies that are doing an extraordinary job to help protect the planet by being more environmentally responsible themselves. Mansfield Plumbing …

Are You Using Your Secret Weapon to Save Water? Read More »

The post Are You Using Your Secret Weapon to Save Water? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
Are You Using Your

It’s time to treat your toilet like the special secret water-saving weapon it is!

Throughout the month of April, which is officially “Earth Month,” and leading up to Earth Day, we’re going to be featuring companies that are doing an extraordinary job to help protect the planet by being more environmentally responsible themselves.

Mansfield Plumbing is one of those companies. The Perrysville, Ohio business is a leader in manufacturing highly water-efficient toilets, one of your home’s secret weapons when it comes to saving water. The company is setting a great example on how to run a sustainable business, too. It recycles millions of pounds of waste plaster, paper and wood each year and is reducing the amount of water its manufacturing facility uses by between 10 and 30 percent. In fact, about 10,000 tons of its scrap material is actually being recycled into the aggregate that paves the roads leading up to landfills!

 Here’s more about the water saving toilet products the company makes and why you should select your next toilet from Mansfield Plumbing.

Why Do You Need a Water Saving Toilet?

water saving toilet
The Summit 1.28 Gpf (gallons per flush) toilet from Mansfield Plumbing meets WaterSense criteria.

America is running out of water. Droughts related to climate change are taking a big toll. But so is factory farming, and industrial oil and gas operations, like “fracking,” which consume enormous quantities of water that ends up polluted and unusable for generations.

As water becomes more scarce, it gets more expensive. It also becomes more important to use the water we have wisely. In our homes, one of the biggest ways we waste water is by flushing the toilet.

I’m not saying we shouldn’t flush! Of course we have to!!

But do we need to use so much water when we flush? Not by a long shot.

That’s why a high-efficiency toilet is your secret weapon when it comes to saving water.

Every time a toilet is flushed, water is used to remove the waste from the bowl.

But how much water a toilet uses is the issue. Many “old fashioned” and out-of-date toilets may still use as much as 6 gallons of water per flush. That might have been fine before so many areas of the country faced drought. But in this day and age, we just can’t afford to use that much water to dispose of our body waste.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency created its WaterSense program to encourage companies to manufacture and sell water saving toilets (and other water appliances and fixtures) that get the job done using far less water than common toilets.

Mansfield - PIc - Water Sense Logo“WaterSense has estimated that if all old, inefficient toilets in the United States were replaced with WaterSense labeled models, we could save 520 billion gallons of water each year,” says Adriana Miller, product manager for Mansfield Plumbing.

“That’s roughly the amount of water that flows over Niagara Falls in about 12 days.

 “This change to low-flow toilets is something that every homeowner can do right now to help save water and celebrate Earth Day every day throughout the year.”

WaterSense-rated toilets use just 1.28 gallons per flush (GpF) or less.

“These high efficiency toilets (HETs) save water in the home, which can help our environment, and reduce yearly water bills for consumers. It’s a win-win situation,” says Mansfield’s Miller.

And here’s another benefit:

Water saving toilets earning the WaterSense label — like many offered by Mansfield Plumbing — have been certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient without sacrificing performance.

If you’re wondering just how much water and money you’d save by switching to a WaterSense model, Miller recommends homeowners visit the Water Savings Calculator at the Mansfield Plumbing website to determine just how much water and money a family can save by investing in a WaterSense-rated toilet with a powerful flushing system.

HOW MUCH WATER CAN YOU SAVE?

Mansfield - Pic - Brentwood HET
The Brentwood high efficiency toilet (HET) from Mansfield Plumbing uses just 1.28 gallons per flush.

⇒ A  family of four can potentially save 16,206 gallons of water each year (with an average five flushes a day per person) when installing a 1.28 Gpf toilet over a 3.5 Gpf toilet.

⇒ That equates to about $81 in savings each year.

⇒ When installing a 1.0 Maverick or Quantum toilet, the figures drop even further, to saving 18,250 gallons of water yearly or about $91 in water bills.

“For many areas of the country, it’s not about the cost savings, but about the fact that there simply isn’t enough water availability,” says Miller.

“Taking the step to invest in HETs makes good sense for communities, the environment and for homeowners.”

watersense toiletI took my own advice and bought a WaterSense toilet. (That’s it on the left.)

Miller points out that several states (including California and Texas) mandate the use of WaterSense-rated HETs for all new residential and commercial construction.

But whether your community requires WaterSense toilets or not, why not make the switch?

Otherwise, you’ll keep flushing unnecessary water – and money – down the drain.

Related Posts:

Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50%
10 No-Brainer Ways to Use Water Wisely. Plus, a Bonus… 

Water. Use it Wisely.

 

The post Are You Using Your Secret Weapon to Save Water? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/water-saving-toilet-2/feed/ 4
Find & Fix Leaky Faucets & Toilets Before Drips Drain Your Wallet https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/fix-leaky-faucets/ https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/fix-leaky-faucets/#comments Mon, 16 Mar 2015 05:28:29 +0000 https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/fix-leaky-faucets/ How much money are your leaky faucets and toilets costing you? And how much water are they wasting? I asked Karen Wirth, the education and outreach coordinator for EPA’s WaterSense program, why we should bother to fix leaky faucets when it can be such a pain, and expensive, too, if you need to call a …

Find & Fix Leaky Faucets & Toilets Before Drips Drain Your Wallet Read More »

The post Find & Fix Leaky Faucets & Toilets Before Drips Drain Your Wallet appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
fix leaky faucets

How much money are your leaky faucets and toilets costing you? And how much water are they wasting?

I asked Karen Wirth, the education and outreach coordinator for EPA’s WaterSense program, why we should bother to fix leaky faucets when it can be such a pain, and expensive, too, if you need to call a plumber. Here’s what she had to say (and I think it’s pretty convincing):

You might be able put up with the occasional drip-drip-drip after you turn off the water from your morning shower. Or think nothing of having to jiggle the handle after you flush to quiet your old toilet.

But these easy-to-fix leaks could be wasting more than 10,000 gallons of water each year—what you use to wash 270 loads of laundry—and worse yet, adding 10 percent to your water bill.

Maybe you’re intimidated by the thought of tackling leaks at home, or think it will be expensive. But in many cases, repairs don’t require a major investment or a plumbing license.

Take toilets, for example. Leaks are usually easy to hear. You can also identify silent leaks by putting a few drops of food coloring in the tank at the back of your toilet. Wait 10 minutes. If color appears in the bowl, you have a leak. (Make sure you flush afterward to avoid staining!)

fix a leakIn many cases, a rotting or faulty rubber toilet flapper is the culprit, and can be easily purchased for a few dollars at any hardware store and installed without tools. A running or broken toilet may be a larger problem and may require a licensed plumber; HomeAdvisor estimates that hiring a plumber to fix a toilet can cost $120 to $190.

But if you take into account the fact that a running toilet can waste as much as 21,600 gallons of water per month and cost your family more than $2,000 extra in annual water charges, that’s a small time and money investment for the payback. Consider using the Green Plumbers® locator to find a professional who has completed accreditation training in environmental issues and water-efficient technology.

EPA’s Fix a Leak Week

water sense logoTo inspire you to spring into action to make your home leak-free, EPA’s WaterSense® program has declared March 16 through 22, 2015, Fix a Leak Week. Here are three easy steps you can take this week to make leaks less of a drain on our natural resources—and YOUR Green Purse:

1. Check. Start your leak check by looking at your January or February water bill. If your winter monthly use was higher than 12,000 gallons for a family of four, you probably have a serious leak. You can also check your water meter (it’s usually outside the house) before and after a two-hour period when no water is being used. If the reading has changed, something’s leaking.

2. Twist. Over the course of a year, a faucet that’s leaking just one drip per second can waste the amount of water needed to take more than 180 showers! Twist and tighten pipe connections with a wrench, or use pipe tape to seal where showerheads are shedding. To save even more water without a noticeable difference in flow, twist on a WaterSense labeled faucet aerator in your bathroom.

3. Replace. If you can’t fix the leaks with your own DIY skills, it might be time to replace the fixture. Look for the WaterSense label (above left) associated with toilets, showerheads, and bathroom sink faucets and accessories that are independently certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well as or better than standard models. That means you won’t waste time double-flushing or waiting for a weak spray to wash your hair.

Need more inspiration? Visit the WaterSense website to learn more about how to find and fix leaks or watch this simple animated short video. And if you do take the plunge and repair a leaky fixture, tweet a photo with #IFixLeaks to show your skills at saving water and money!

Karen Wirth is EPA’s WaterSense education and outreach coordinator. She has worked in a variety of program areas at EPA, focusing for the past 17 years on water issues.

RELATED POSTS:

Are You Taking A WaterSense Shower?
Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50%
My New Water-Saving Toilet

The post Find & Fix Leaky Faucets & Toilets Before Drips Drain Your Wallet appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/fix-leaky-faucets/feed/ 4
Are You Taking A WaterSense Shower? https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/taking-watersense-shower/ https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/taking-watersense-shower/#respond Tue, 28 Oct 2014 20:25:00 +0000 https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/taking-watersense-shower/ I’m a big fan of WaterSense, the program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that inspires companies to produce appliances and gadgets that help people like you and me save money. When I needed to replace my toilet last year, I made sure it met the WaterSense standards, and when I’ve purchased water timers …

Are You Taking A WaterSense Shower? Read More »

The post Are You Taking A WaterSense Shower? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
water sense showerI’m a big fan of WaterSense, the program run by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that inspires companies to produce appliances and gadgets that help people like you and me save money. When I needed to replace my toilet last year, I made sure it met the WaterSense standards, and when I’ve purchased water timers for my garden, they’ve been WaterSense models, too. This month, WaterSense is focusing its attention on showers, since conventional showers waste so much H2O. I invited Karen Wirth, EPA’s WaterSense Marketing and Outreach Coordinator, to explain why it makes sense to take a WaterSense shower. Here’s what she had to say:

The shower is a place where we wake up, wind down, or just have a little “me” time in an otherwise hectic day. But did you know it’s also one of the most common places indoors where you might be wasting water, energy, and money?

Showering is one of the leading ways we use water at home, accounting for nearly 17 percent of residential indoor water use. The average family uses about 40 gallons of water daily in the shower alone. That adds up to nearly 1.2 trillion gallons used nationwide each year just for showering. Shaving just one minute off your shower time can save more than 500 gallons of water annually, as well as the same amount of electricity as it takes to run your laptop all year!

In 2006, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) created WaterSense® as a label for high-efficiency plumbing products that not only use less water, but work as well (or better) than their water-guzzling counterparts. What’s more, we require products that earn the label to be independently certified to our rigorous criteria for both water savings and performance.

water sense showerTake showerheads, for example. EPA requires WaterSense-labeled models to be tested for both spray force and water coverage in addition to water savings, so you can enjoy a relaxing and satisfying shower knowing you’re saving resources and doing your part for the environment. In other words, you’ll shower better.

And don’t forget, it takes energy to heat our shower water. Let’s say you take an eight-minute shower. If you’re using a WaterSense-labeled showerhead, every time you shower, you’ll save four gallons of water, plus the electricity it takes to light a 60-watt bulb for eight hours. For a whole family, replacing just one showerhead with a WaterSense labeled model can save 2,900 gallons of water per year, or the amount of water it takes to wash more than 70 loads of laundry! The average American family can also save enough energy each year to power their home for 13 days, and cut annual water and energy costs by more than $70.

In places like California, which is experiencing its worst drought in decades, saving water is especially important. Across the country, if every U.S. home replaced its showerheads with WaterSense-labeled models, we could save more than 260 billion gallons of water annually. WaterSense-labeled models are available in a wide variety of styles and price points, so you’re sure to find one that works for you. And, best of all, you’ll be making a simple change for the better.

In honor of EPA’s Shower Better Month this October, why not give yourself a green upgrade with a WaterSense-labeled showerhead? Many water utilities are offering free showerhead replacements or rebates on WaterSense labeled models; check out EPA’s website. Money isn’t all you will save, but it sure is a good start!

RELATED POSTS:

Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50%

10 No-Brainer Ways to Use Water Wisely.

Meet My New Water-Saving Toilet

 

The post Are You Taking A WaterSense Shower? appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/taking-watersense-shower/feed/ 0
Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50% https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/save-water-outside/ https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/save-water-outside/#comments Wed, 18 Jul 2012 16:05:15 +0000 https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/save-water-outside/ Are you keeping track of how much water you’re using – and maybe wasting? You could probably cut your water bill by almost 50% if you do – and now’s the time to do it. Late July and early August are usually when outdoor water use soars. By some estimates, you might use between 30 and …

Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50% Read More »

The post Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50% appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
ist1_6505376-water-sprinklerAre you keeping track of how much water you’re using – and maybe wasting? You could probably cut your water bill by almost 50% if you do – and now’s the time to do it. Late July and early August are usually when outdoor water use soars. By some estimates, you might use between 30 and 70 percent of all the water your household consumes watering plants, trees, bushes and your lawn.

I like a lush green landscape as much as the next person. What I don’t like is a big hefty water bill, especially when I know I can save money by being smarter about how I use water. Experts estimate that 50 percent of the water we use outdoors gets wasted due to evaporation, wind, or runoff from overwatering.

No matter how much or how little water you use, it will save you and money and time to use less water. Here are ten tips that have worked for me that I’m happy to share with you.

Top 10 Tips to Save Water Outside

1. Xeriscape: Plant perennials, annuals, bushes and trees that do not need more water than normally falls in your region. If rainfall is scarce, skip hydrangeas, which require frequent watering to thrive and bloom. You can find a good list of plants and the amount of watering they require here.

save water 2. Give Up Grass: Did you ever notice that grassy lawns don’t exist anywhere naturally? That’s because they’re a “monocrop,” and Mother Nature prefers to mix things up (it’s called “biodiversity”) by encouraging a variety of plants to grow together. Even in regions that benefit from a lot of rain, you won’t find a lawn growing all by its lonesome. Follow Mother Nature’s lead. Replace your thirsty lawn with a diverse array of ground covers that are more suited to the actual climate in which you live. Here’s a picture of my former lawn. It is now covered in buttercups, clover, and yes, a little crab grass. I never water it and only mow it maybe once a month.

3.   Plant in “watering zones”: When planting, assign areas of your landscape to different hydrozones depending on sun/shade exposure, soil and plant types, and type of sprinklers you plan to use. Then,  adjust your irrigation system or watering schedule based on those zones’ specific needs. With this simple system in place, you’ll avoid overwatering some areas or underwatering others.

 sprinkler-spruce-up-infographic-thumb4.   Tune up your system: Inspect irrigation systems and check for leaks and broken or clogged sprinkler heads. Fix sprinkler heads that are broken or spraying on the sidewalk, street, or driveway. Repair or replace hoses that have holes. I have one spigot I can’t seem to stop from leaking when I water, so I put a big bucket underneath it to catch the drips. When the bucket is around half full, I’ll empty it onto some hydrangeas or azaleas or other plants that need a little extra moisture. Works like a charm!

5. Water when it makes sense. Know how much water your landscape actually needs before you set your sprinkler. Your local utility or garden center can recommend how much water certain plants need in your region and best times to water. It’s best to water lawns and landscapes in the early morning and late evening because large amounts of water can be lost due to evaporation during the heat of the day.

watersense logo6. Use a WaterSense timer. WaterSense is a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency program that helps people save water. Products carrying the WaterSense label perform well, help save money, and encourage innovation in manufacturing. Clock timers you attach to your faucet can be set to turn off automatically, saving you water and time. WaterSense labeled irrigation controllers act like a thermostat for your lawn, using local weather data to determine when and how much to water, which reduces waste and improves plant health.

 7.  Get some help: Contractors certified through a WaterSense labeled program can audit, install, or maintain home irrigation systems to ensure water isn’t wasted. Make sure you ask for credentials.

8. Use a soil moisture sensor: Grass doesn’t always need water just because it’s hot out. Step on the lawn, and if the grass springs back, it doesn’t need water. An inexpensive soil moisture sensor can also show the amount of moisture at the plant’s roots and discourage overwatering.

 9. Cut back on mowing.    Longer grass promotes deeper root growth, resulting in a more drought-resistant lawn, reduced evaporation, and fewer weeds. So raise your lawn mower blade to leave the grass longer when you cut it.

 10.   Give your hose a break: Sweep driveways, sidewalks, and steps rather than hosing them off. And don’t forget to check for leaks at your spigot connection and tighten as necessary.

What Do You Do To Save Water?

We’re always eager to learn from you! If you have some additional ideas to save water outside, please share them below. Thanks!

And here’s another interesting idea for you: some people install water tanks to collect significant amounts of rainfall from their roofs, much more than they’d collect with just a rain barrel. Someone in my neighborhood installed an underground water tank, but there are many other ways to do it. In most parts of Australia, locals make use of rainwater tanks, not only to boost their gardens but for water conservation and sustainability. Water tank suppliers like Rainwater Tanks Direct provide materials as well as help educate citizens about effective rainwater catchment systems.

 

Related Posts:

Find water-saving timers and devices in our Amazon store here.

 

 

 

 

The post Ten Ways to Save Water Outside and Cut Your Water Bill by 50% appeared first on Big Green Purse.

]]>
https://www.newsite.biggreenpurse.com/save-water-outside/feed/ 4