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Home Conservation Tips |
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SMART WATER USE - Indoors
Click Here for simple Green Home tips you can use to save every day
Click Here for a Water Usage & Savings Comparison Chart
Other Tips Include:
Fix All Leaks - Toilet leaks can waste hundreds of gallons a day. Drop a small amount of food coloring in the tank (do not
flush), if color appears in the bowl, you have a leak. Also,
be sure to fix dripping faucets by replacing washers. Click Here to learn more about
leaking toilets and faucets.
And since some leaks are invisible, read your water meter before
going to bed and again first thing in the morning before there is any water usage. If the number is larger - you have a leak that needs repaired.
Learn how to read your water meter.
More information on finding leaks can be found in our Leak Detection Handbook.
SMART WATER USE - Outdoors Learn landscaping techniques that conserve water while protecting the environment:
Click Here to learn about Rainwater Reuse, Rain Barrels & Rain Gardens
Click Here to view "Conserving a Vital Resource/Outdoor Water Use"
Click Here to visit the U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency for more water saving tips
Other Tips Include:
Planting Trees - Did you know that trees cool your home and protect other plants from moisture loss? A tree can release 100 gallons of water into the atmosphere
every day, and has the same cooling effect as five average air conditioners.
Mulch Around Plants & Trees - Uniformly spreading mulch or Com-Til on the surface of the
soil around plants conserves moisture in the soil and prevents weed growth.
Learn more about Com-Til,
a high quality organic mulch produced by our Compost Facility.
SMART ENERGY USE
Click Here for simple Green Home tips you can use to save every day
Click Here to visit the U.S. Department of Energy for additional energy saving tips
Wintertime Energy Savings Tips
Other Tips Include:
Air Conditioners - Set your thermostat as high as comfortably possible in the summer. The less difference between the indoor and outdoor temperatures, the lower your overall cooling bill will be. Consider using an interior fan in conjunction
with your window air conditioner to spread the cooled air more effectively through your home without greatly increasing your power use. Plant trees or shrubs to shade air-conditioning units but not to block the airflow. A unit operating in the
shade uses as much as 10% less electricity than the same one operating in the sun. Purchase a correctly sized room air conditioning unit. Buying a bigger air conditioning unit won't necessarily make you feel more comfortable during the hot
summer months. Look for the ENERGY STAR and EnergyGuide labels.
Water Heating
Water heating is the third largest energy expense in
your home. It typically accounts for about 14% of your
utility bill. Insulate your electric hot-water storage
tank and pipes, but be careful not to cover the
thermostat. Buy a new energy efficient water heater.
Although most water heaters last 10-15 years, it's best
to start shopping for a new one if yours is more than 7
years old. Lower the thermostat on your water heater;
water heaters sometimes come from the factory with high
temperature settings, but a setting of 115 degrees
Fahrenheit provides comfortable hot water for most uses.
Repair leaky faucets promptly; a leaky faucet wastes
gallons of water in a short period. Install non-aerating,
low-flow faucets and showerheads.
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