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WATER & ENERGY
source: www.energyquest.ca.gov/saving
_energy/
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About 75% of the water we use in our homes is used in the bathroom. Wasting water wastes electricity. Why? Because the biggest use of electricity in most cities is supplying water and cleaning it up after it's been used!
Water companies now have to do their bit to boost their efficiency by cutting water leakage and introducing water saving devices, but your action in and around the home is equally important: - report any water leaks you see to your local water company. If you have a water leak on your property, ask your water company whether it offers a subsidised repair service;
- check all taps for drips and replace worn-out washers. A dripping tap can waste enough water in a day to run a shower for 5 minutes;
- if your water is too hot, turn the thermostat down to around 60°C (140°F). Running hot water down the drain costs you money;
- take a shower - it will use 2-3 times less water than a bath;
- toilet devices: consider using a water saving device in your cistern. They're often free from your water company and easy to install;
- if you are replacing your bathroom, buy a dual flush toilet and use the short flush when you can.
Water heating accounts for as much as 20% of your utility bill. You can reduce its impact by… - replacing an old boiler could save you over 1/5 on your fuel bills - and up to 32% if you opt for a condensing boiler. It has been estimated that if everyone in the UK with gas central heating installed a condensing boiler, they would cut carbon dioxide emissions by 18.6 million tonnes, saving £1.3 billion (about € 1.95 billion) on our energy bills every year. This is enough energy to heat and power over 4 million homes for a year;
- fit the right heating controls as well as a condensing boiler and you could bump the savings up to 40%;
- insulating the hot water tank to reduce heat loss and save energy;
- an old hot water heater builds up deposits inside and becomes less efficient. Install a new energy efficient, well-insulated hot water heater;
- if you live in a cold climate, install aholding tank for water to reach room temperature before entering the hot water heater;
- fix leaky faucets, especially if it's a hot water faucet. One drop per second can add up to 750 liters a month - that's more than one person uses in two weeks;
- take a shower instead of a bath and you'll use less hot water. Install a low-flow shower head to save valuable hot water (and – as a consequence – a lot of energy!).
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