We consider limiting water use a matter of living responsibly. To do our part during the drought, we've put in WaterSense labeled toilets (1.28 gallons per flush) and showerheads (1.5 gallons per minute). These were low-cost changes that have a big impact. We take 5-minute showers and turn off the water while soaping. Instead of letting water run down the drain while it's warming up, we catch it in a bucket and use it to water the garden. Same when doing the dishes. We've also stopped watering the lawn in the backyard: we're planning on getting rid of most of it in favor of more water-wise landscaping anyway.
We installed a shut off switch on the shower head. So when someone takes a shower they get in with the water on to get wet, turn off the water at the shower head to soap up, and then turn it back on to rinse off. Once we started using that our water bill dropped by about 1/3 of our usual amount!
My town has a preset amount of water that you pay for and then extra if you go over that usage, which I never have so I must already be doing something right. I do things such as turn off water when brushing my teeth, but it was more habit than conservation.
It takes so long to get the hot water to the kitchen sink. I let pitchers fill until it gets hot enough to wash the dishes. Then I pour the water into a 5 gal. bucket in the basement to help fill the washing machine. This has saved us money and water. On average it's about a gal. until the water gets hot enough. I couldn't imagine letting the water run that long, it too wasteful.
honestly, i just take short showers...unlike my roommate (female, too) who literally spends 45 minutes in the shower. unreal. i've actually timed it. but for me, i really do take short showers, rarely take baths, and i'm good at doing laundry in 1 load if possible, even if it's one larger load than 2 smaller loads, it's still saving water.
I save water by using several large rain barrels.We use that water to fill bird baths, water flower beds, rinse our feet and dozens of other outdoor uses. I save thousands of gallons of water every year and have pure clean rain water to use.
We let our Pacific Northwest lawn die in the hottest part of summer, rather than water in. When the rains start again in October (and continue until the end of June), it springs back lush and green.
We installed a Comfort Pump (hot water recirculation pump -- http://us.grundfos.com/products/find-product/comfort-pumps-up-10.html). This avoids having to run the water in the morning to warm it up before we shower. Our water took a long time to warm up before, and now it is just a few seconds. This wastes natural gas but saves water. We live in CA and we're in a drought...and it also gives an element of comfort as the name implies.
I really liked this: "Live from a place of wonder in the wealth you've already been blessed with and you'll be much happier and more successful in paying off debt."
and plan to use it in my own debt reduction journey. However.....I'd like to hear the story about the two income couple who had it made (except the debt, of course), when suddenly, one partner was out of work long term, they were not able to sell the under-water house in the depressed market, and although they barely avoided bankruptcy, they did avoid it, and they managed to pay off their large amount of debt without an inheritance or ....
To clean the refrigerator easily I put the shelves into the dish washer the day before I grocery shop when the refrigerator is close to empty. While the dishwasher cleans the shelves I wipe down the inside of the refrigerator.
I use any leftover drinking water (the water left in our family's cups and glasses at the end of the day) to water our potted plants. Not only are we experiencing drought in our state but in our city, we also pay for water based on usage.
Gonna echo Jen - some of this is inspiring (namely the first couple). But stuff like "Used an inheritance to pay the last $105,000 of their mortgage"? Most of us aren't going to be inheriting 100k.
We consider limiting water use a matter of living responsibly. To do our part during the drought, we've put in WaterSense labeled toilets (1.28 gallons per flush) and showerheads (1.5 gallons per minute). These were low-cost changes that have a big impact. We take 5-minute showers and turn off the water while soaping. Instead of letting water run down the drain while it's warming up, we catch it in a bucket and use it to water the garden. Same when doing the dishes. We've also stopped watering the lawn in the backyard: we're planning on getting rid of most of it in favor of more water-wise landscaping anyway.
We bought a new dishwasher that uses less water.
We installed a shut off switch on the shower head. So when someone takes a shower they get in with the water on to get wet, turn off the water at the shower head to soap up, and then turn it back on to rinse off. Once we started using that our water bill dropped by about 1/3 of our usual amount!
My town has a preset amount of water that you pay for and then extra if you go over that usage, which I never have so I must already be doing something right. I do things such as turn off water when brushing my teeth, but it was more habit than conservation.
In this period of time where electricity is becoming very awful resource. This solar charger will help a lot.
Thanks for the post.
It takes so long to get the hot water to the kitchen sink. I let pitchers fill until it gets hot enough to wash the dishes. Then I pour the water into a 5 gal. bucket in the basement to help fill the washing machine. This has saved us money and water. On average it's about a gal. until the water gets hot enough. I couldn't imagine letting the water run that long, it too wasteful.
hey, if you only have one child (or none) you'll be saving any amount of water by reducing the population
Sometimes direct flights are cheaper than non-stops; sometimes they're not. It just depends upon . . . well, the computers that decide the airfares.
We use a reduced flow shower head.
I turn the water off when I brush my teeth.
I only run the dishwasher when it's full.
honestly, i just take short showers...unlike my roommate (female, too) who literally spends 45 minutes in the shower. unreal. i've actually timed it. but for me, i really do take short showers, rarely take baths, and i'm good at doing laundry in 1 load if possible, even if it's one larger load than 2 smaller loads, it's still saving water.
I save water by using several large rain barrels.We use that water to fill bird baths, water flower beds, rinse our feet and dozens of other outdoor uses. I save thousands of gallons of water every year and have pure clean rain water to use.
I try to keep my showers short and don't water the lawn in the middle of the day in the summer.
I take shorter showers to conserve water and save money
We let our Pacific Northwest lawn die in the hottest part of summer, rather than water in. When the rains start again in October (and continue until the end of June), it springs back lush and green.
Thanks PurchaseWisely, those are some good tips!
You're 100% right! Both at Safeway and Target I often find real steals on the clearance shelves.
Don't water the lawn! I let nature take care of that one. Same with our veggie garden, unless we haven't had rain.
We installed a Comfort Pump (hot water recirculation pump -- http://us.grundfos.com/products/find-product/comfort-pumps-up-10.html). This avoids having to run the water in the morning to warm it up before we shower. Our water took a long time to warm up before, and now it is just a few seconds. This wastes natural gas but saves water. We live in CA and we're in a drought...and it also gives an element of comfort as the name implies.
I really liked this: "Live from a place of wonder in the wealth you've already been blessed with and you'll be much happier and more successful in paying off debt."
and plan to use it in my own debt reduction journey. However.....I'd like to hear the story about the two income couple who had it made (except the debt, of course), when suddenly, one partner was out of work long term, they were not able to sell the under-water house in the depressed market, and although they barely avoided bankruptcy, they did avoid it, and they managed to pay off their large amount of debt without an inheritance or ....
To clean the refrigerator easily I put the shelves into the dish washer the day before I grocery shop when the refrigerator is close to empty. While the dishwasher cleans the shelves I wipe down the inside of the refrigerator.
We recently bought a ton of souvenirs on our last trip (last week). We didn't negotiate as much as I would have liked. UGH!
I use any leftover drinking water (the water left in our family's cups and glasses at the end of the day) to water our potted plants. Not only are we experiencing drought in our state but in our city, we also pay for water based on usage.
Gonna echo Jen - some of this is inspiring (namely the first couple). But stuff like "Used an inheritance to pay the last $105,000 of their mortgage"? Most of us aren't going to be inheriting 100k.
Still, I like seeing these types of posts.