|
| |
Inside the home, water is used for drinking, bathing, cooking and cleaning. A
person may use 60 to 80 gallons of water each day. Using less water indoors
means saving not only on water bills, but also on energy and wastewater costs.
There are three main ways to save water in the home:
- Find and repair leaks. Fix dripping faucets; usually a new washer
is all it takes. Put a few drops of food coloring in the toilet tank. If
color appears in the bowl after a few minutes without flushing, you have a
leak that needs to be repaired. Click the
Water Leak link to learn more
about how to find and fix a leak.
- Install water-saving devices. Low-flow showerheads and faucet
aerators are inexpensive and easy to install. For the toilet, fill one or
two plastic bottles with water and weight them with a few stones. Place them
inside the tank where they won't interfere with the operation of any moving
parts. Each time you flush, you will save as much water as is displaced by
the bottles. If you're in the market to buy a new toilet, read about
1.6
gallons per flush toilets.
- Change your habits to use less water. Become conscious of the amount
of water you're using and look for ways to use less. Here are some simple ways
you can conserve water without affecting your lifestyle:
In the Bathroom
- Turn off the water while brushing your teeth or shaving. Wet your
toothbrush, then draw a glass of water for rinsing. Before shaving,
partially fill the sink with warm water for rinsing the razor blade.
- Don't use the toilet as a trash can.
- Take shorter showers or bathe in half a tub of water.
|
|
In the Kitchen
- Run the dishwasher only when it's full. Do small loads by hand.
- Don't rinse the dishes before putting them into the dishwasher, just
scrape them clean.
- When washing fruits or vegetables, fill the sink with water instead of
running the faucet.
- Store a jug of water in the refrigerator for a cool drink.
|
In the Laundry
- Run only full loads in the washing machine unless you can adjust for
smaller loads.
- If you're in the market for a new washer, consider one of the new
water-saving
models.
|
| Toilet flushing is the number one water consumer in the home, accounting for
almost 40 percent of indoor residential water use. As a nation, we flush away
more than five billion gallons of water every day. Since the early 1980s, most
toilets have been designed to use 3.5 gallons per flush, down from five or six a
generation earlier. With the Energy Policy Act of 1992, all toilets currently
manufactured in the United States use no more than 1.6 gallons per flush. The
American Water Works Association estimates a nationwide savings of 6.5 billion
gallons of water per day will be realized by 2025 under the new standards.
The first generation of 1.6 toilets had reduced tank sizes, but the bowls
were not redesigned, resulting in poorly functioning units. Poor installation
and substandard plumbing have also resulted in unsatisfactory results.
Are you in the market for a new toilet? There are very good 1.6 gallon
toilets available, both gravity-operated models and models that pressurize the
flush water. Pressure-assisted toilets generally perform better than
gravity-flush toilets, but tend to be more expensive. Pressure-assisted toilets
range from $210 to $815 and gravity-flush toilets range from $65 to $575. Get
specific brand and model recommendations from your friends and neighbors. Check
out the February 1995 issue of Consumer Reports for an evaluation of 1.6
toilets. |
|
| Horizontal-axis washing machine technology, long the standard in Europe, has
recently crossed the Atlantic. In the last year, four major U.S. appliance
manufacturers have developed horizontal-axis washers that use approximately 40
percent less water and energy than existing models.
Washing machines traditionally have a vertical axis drum that agitates the
clothes back and forth in a tub full of water. Large washers use approximately
40 gallons of water per load. A horizontal axis, front-loading washer tumbles
clothes in a smaller amount of water. The clothes are lifted up and plunged
down, like a dryer, which flexes fibers and loosens trapped soil. They only use
between 20 and 25 gallons per load.
The cleaning action of the new washers is reported to be at least as good and
perhaps superior to traditional washers. The new machines have at least three
wash cycles, resulting in less detergent remaining in the clothes. Since there
is no central agitator around which the clothes are pulled, there is less wear
and tear on clothes. Also, without an agitator there is more room for large
quilts, parkas and other big items.
Like all new technology, these washers are currently fairly expensive.
Frigidaire Gallery and Gibson (made by Frigidaire) models are currently priced
at approximately $800 in local stores. The Maytag Neptune and an Asko model are
each selling for close to $1,000. Amana and GE have also developed new models. A
vertical axis machine with similar features costs about $450. What savings will
you see? Savings in water costs don't add up very quickly. If you do five loads
a week, you might save about $6 per year for the water. In addition, energy
costs to heat the water and for drying will also be decreased. Most of the new
washers have faster spin cycles, resulting in less water in the clothes to be
dried.
|
 |
For More Information Contact:
Mayfield Electric & Water Systems
301 East Broadway, Mayfield, KY 42066
Tel: 270-247-4661
FAX: 270-247-0550
Internet: jcre@mayfieldews.com
Top of Page |
