Greenlinks Blog
Energy Efficiency for the Consumer
-Reduce Hot Water Use for energy savings
You can lower your water heating costs by using less hot water in your home. To conserve hot water, you can fix leaks, install low-flow fixtures, and purchase an energy-effcient dish washer and clothes washer.
Fix Leaks
You can significantly reduce hot water use by simply repairing leaks in fixtures--and faucets and showerheads--pipes. A leak of one drip per second can cost $1.00 per month. If your water heater leaks, you need a NEW one.
Install Low-flow Fixtures
Federal Regulations mandate that new showerhead flow rates can't exceed more than 2.5 gallons per minute at a water pressure of 80 pounds per square inch. New faucet flow rates can't exceed 2.5 gallons per minute at 80 ponds per square inch as well. You can buy some quality, low-flow fixtures for around $10.00 to $20.00 a piece and achieve water savings of 25% to 60%.
Showerheads
For maximum savings, you can select a shower head with a flow rate of less than 2.5 gpm. There are two basic types of low-flow shower heads : Aerating and laminar-flow. Aerating shower heads mix air and water, forming a misty spray. Laminar-flow showerheads form individual streams of water. If you live in a humid climate you might want to use a laminar-flow showerhead because it will not create as much steam and moisture as an aerating one. If your fixtures pre-date 1992, you may want to consider changing them.
Faucets
The aerator--the screw-on tip of the faucet--ultimately determines the maximum flow rate of a faucet. Typically, new kitchen faucets come equipped with aerators that restrict flow rates to 2.2gpm, while new bathroom faucets have ones that restrict flow ratesfrom 1.5 to 0.5 gpm. Aerators are inexpensive to replace and they can be one of the most cost effective water conservation measures. For maximum water efficiency, purchase aerators that have flow rates of no more than 1 gpm. When replacing an aerator, bring the old one you are replacingto the store with you to ensure a proper fit.
Appliances next time.
Source US Dept of Energy