Simple Ideas to Save Water

Fresh drinking water makes up just 1 percent of the earth-a tiny number when you consider that the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the average American household of four uses about 146,000 gallons of water annually or the equivalent of 100 gallons per day per person. And a recent government study cited by the EPA reveals that at least 36 states anticipate water shortages on a local, regional, or statewide level by 2013. Any way you pour it, water is a big deal, but there's good news for Lazy Environmentalists. A few simple and affordable changes can dramatically reduce consumption levels. You can also save money as you save water. The EPA estimates that simple conservation techniques can help the average household reduce its yearly water and sewer bills by $170.

START WITH THE SHOWER

Your daily eight-minute shower uses about 20 gallons of water. Take a shower once a day and it adds up to 7,300 gallons per year. With that much water, a typical family of four could fill its own medium-sized swimming pool, wash 4,152 loads of laundry, or make 166,115 pots of Campbell's soup. Thankfully, you don't have to sacrifice your hygiene to conserve water in the shower. A strategic showerhead is all it takes. WaterPik-creator of the original massage showerhead-recently introduced the Ecoflow. The low-flow showerhead utilizes the company's patented optiFLOW technology to deliver a spray that's comparable to most standard showerheads, yet uses 40 percent less water. Ecoflow uses 1.5 gallons per minute while the standard showerhead gushes out a whopping 2.5 gallons per minute. The showerhead also features a water pause switch so you can prevent waste when waiting for the hot water to kick in or while lathering up. Waterpik-store.com offers fixed-mount Ecoflow models for as low as $14.99 with an instant $5 rebate, and a handheld version is available on the site for $44.99.

Evolve has designed a series of water-saving showerheads that run cold water until the temperature reaches 95 degrees and then stops the flow to a trickle. This way hot water doesn't release until you actually step into the shower and turn the valve to release the flow. With Evolve you can shave, make the bed, bake cupcakes, and catch the end of Oprah without wasting gallons of water and all the energy required to heat it. Multiple showerhead styles are available, including the Roadrunner low-flow showerhead, delivering strong water pressure with just 1.59 gallons per minute ($39.95 through Evolveshowerheads.com). The company estimates that the Roadrunner saves eight gallons of water for every five-minute shower when compared to standard showerhead models.

TRADE IN YOUR TOILET

Sit down on some great water savings by opting for a high-efficiency toilet (HET). According to the EPA, toilet flushing accounts for about 30 percent of all indoor residential water use, requiring more water than any other activity in our homes. But the right toilet can change those statistics for the better. In response to rising water demand and looming water shortages, the EPA developed WaterSense, a program that makes it easy for consumers to quickly identify water-efficient products. Toilets that carry the WaterSense label are third-party certified to be at least 20 percent more efficient than today's standard toilets, which reduce flow per flush from an average 1.6 gallons to 1.28 (but toilets installed in your home before 1994 still use 3.5 gallons or more per flush). Visit the program's website at http://www.Epa.gov/watersense to find qualifying products plus a list of participating retailers like Vidavici.com, offering one of the widest selections of WaterSense-rated toilets available on the Internet. Save money on your next toilet purchase by taking advantage of rebates for water-efficient toilets that are sponsored by local city governments throughout North America. For example, residents of Albuquerque, New Mexico, can receive a $125 rebate when replacing a standard toilet model with a water-efficient model. In Sioux Falls, South Dakota, residents are eligible for a $75 rebate when making the switch. Visit Toiletrebate.com to see what incentives may be available to you.

But why send perfectly clean drinking water down the toilet? An AQUS System reuses the water from your bathroom sink for all of your flushing needs. Developed by Water Saver Technologies, the AQUS is a small, simple system that uses a 5 1/2-gallon container inside your sink's vanity (or behind the wall or underneath the floorboards) to capture and filter water as it comes down the sink's drain. The water is run from the container to your toilet's tank with a small tube. Install the AQUS, and you'll be a hero of the planet though you'll barely notice that the device is there. Two people sharing an AQUS- quipped bathroom are estimated to save about 14 gallons of water per day, or 5,000 gallons over the course of a year. The system is available for $295 plus installation. Depending upon your local water and sewage rates, Water Saver Technologies estimates that it usually pays for itself within four to five years. You can find a distributor at http://www.Watersavertech.com.

What about the used water (also known as gray water) from your kitchen sink, shower, and dishwasher? While a bigger financial commitment than an AQUS, a whole-house grey water system single-handedly reduces a home's indoor water usage by 30 percent by redirecting used water to all toilets. By law, a household grey water system can only collect used water inside the home to flush toilets; other uses are deemed unsanitary. Canada-based Brac Systems offers a residential system called the Brac 250L ($2,190 at Aquaprosolutions.com), which is optimal for homes with up to six people. Depending on your location, a Brac system could be a wise investment. While the EPA estimates that the average U.S. Household pays $523 per year in water and sewage bills, those costs spike in cities like Atlanta, Seattle, and San Diego to well over $1,000 per year. In such cases, a Brac system starts to make both financial and environmental sense.

Josh Dorfman is an environmental entrepreneur, media personality and author of The Lazy Environmentalist: Your Guide to Easy, Stylish, Green Living. He is also the founder and CEO of Vivavi, a retailer of modern, green furniture and home furnishings. His latest book, The Lazy Environmentalist on a Budget: Save Money. Save Time. Save The Planet, is now available. For more information, please visit: http://www.lazyenvironmentalist.com

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Josh_Dorfman