Saving Water Can Save Electricity
Using less water and electricity offers a lot of upsides for you, your community, and the environment at large. None of us can do it alone, and we can only do it together.
Optimize Your Bathrooms
Saving money on utility bills doesn't have to be difficult. You can tune up your bathroom by upgrading to eco-friendly, low-flush toilets that use far less water than standard models. If you have an old toilet that uses 3.5 gallons per flush or more, you may qualify for a rebate when you replace the toilet. It’s also a good idea to take more showers than baths. The average bath uses roughly 36 gallons of water, whereas a five-minute shower uses only a fraction of that amount. When you brush your teeth, turn off the water faucet except when rinsing. Resist the temptation to let it run the entire time you’re brushing.
Use Hot Water Sparingly
Next to heating and cooling the air in your home, heating water is the most energy-demanding task in the average home. You don’t have to switch to ice-cold showers, but use hot water only when you need to. Consider installing low-flow faucets, showerheads, and sprinkler systems in your home and yard.
When replacing a showerhead look for a WaterSense labeled model. Standard showerheads use 2.5 gallons of water per minute, while WaterSense labeled products are certified to use at least 20 percent less water and perform as well or better than standard models. WaterSense labeled showerheads come in a variety of styles and prices to fit your bathroom needs. By using less water in the shower, you'll save on your monthly water and energy bills. Cocoa Utilities will give you a free showerhead and low-flow faucet aerators if you complete a Home Water Use Survey.
If you plan to replace a water faucet, consider one with a WaterSense label that meet the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) criteria. There are a variety of trendy water-saving faucets you can choose from—try the new touch technology, for hands free.
Do the Laundry When the Load Is Full
In the average household, laundry accounts for roughly 15% of household water usage and around 5% of the electric bill. To save on both, only run full loads and wash your clothes in cold water when you can, since heating the water requires about 90% more electricity. And skipping the dryer and hanging your clothes to air dry is another way to save.
Here are a few other complementary strategies you can implement at home to improve the efficiency of your water:
- Repair water leaks. The EPA warns that a single leaky toilet can waste up to 200 gallons of water every day.
- Water your outdoor plants earlier in the day so the water can better reach the roots instead of evaporating in the sun.
Save Water, Save Electricity — and Save Money
