How to improve water efficiency at home

In the name of efficiency, we’ve broken down our list of tips of what you can do every day to help minimize water use, conserve energy and in turn save dinero: The Small Stuff and The Big Stuff.

The Small Stuff:

Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket for tissues and thus, flush less. Did you know that for every flush, five to seven gallons of water flush away too?

Take shorter showers. A typical shower uses 5-10 gallons of water PER MINUTE. #whoknew

Turn off the water while brushing your teeth. You know what to do with this one. (Same goes for shaving)

Turn off water while washing hands. Wet hands, shut water, lather soap and sing “Happy Birthday,” turn water on, rinse. The end.

Turn off water while hand washing dishes. We’re seeing a pattern here, ya?

The Big Stuff:

Check for leaks. From showers to tubs to toilets to sinks, there is plenty of opportunities for water waste. Even a small drip can waste gallons upon gallons of water a day.

Check for leaks OUTSIDE the house too. They are easier to go unnoticed but can be even more wasteful than leaks inside the home.

Use your dishwasher for full loads. Running your dishwasher less often saves water and $$$. Same goes for washing machines.

Water your lawn on an as-needed basis. Step on your grass. If it springs back up when you lift your foot, it doesn’t need watering and you can let Mother Nature do the job at the next rainfall.

Put a layer of mulch around your trees. Mulch slows the evaporation of moisture and keeps your resident trees hydrated longer.