Conserving energy and water is an easy way to reduce your carbon footprint while saving money.
Save Energy
Accordiong to energystar.gov, a typical U.S. family spends around $2,000 a year on home utility bills. There are many low-cost and no-cost ways you can reduce your energy costs. They begin with simple things like turning off or unplugging computers, TVs, phone chargers, and other home electronics. These are often referred to as Vampire Loads.
The best place to start saving is by figuring out how much energy you currently use. The ENERGY STAR Home Energy Yardstick is a helpful tool to use to calculate your household energy use. Once you know more about your household energy use, implement some of the following changes.
- Sealing Leaks
- Switch to Energy saving lighting
- Washing more clothes in cold water
- Add Insulation
- Buy ENERGY STAR labeled appliances and electronics
- Selecting an Energy-efficient water heater
- Buy an Energy-efficient home
- Incorporate Renewable energy when building or remodeling
- Regular Home maintenace
- More Energy saving tips from the Department of Energy
Save Water
The average person uses 80 - 100 gallons of water a day, and each year over 10,000 gallons of water are wasted because of leaks. Repairing water leaks saves the average household about 10% on their water bill. You can use less water and save money by following these steps.
- Make every drop count by turning off the faucet when brushing your teeth
- Wash full loads of clothes and dishes
- Take the 10 minute challenge to detect and chase down leaks
- Replace shower heads and faucets with WaterSense labeled products
- Harvest water - make a Rain barrel
- More water saving tips
Use the acronym WATER to help you remember five simple things you can do to save water and money: