Water: Eco-Friendly Checklist

Doing routine checks for leaking or running faucets, spigots, or other water sources around your house is a great habit to get into. Especially for lesser-used water sources, a constant running or leaking faucet that goes unnoticed for an extended period of time can waste fully use a significant amount of water.

Getting the most out of each load of dishes you run through the dishwasher can ensure you get the most accomplished for the water and energy you use - since the same amount of resources are used whether you wash a full load or a single dish.

Adjusting your washing machine's settings to use only the amount of water required and trying to do larger loads of laundry at a time can reduce the water and energy used significantly over the years.

This is simply a good habit to get into. Turn the water off if you're not actively using it. If you're paying for municipal water, you can actually save a little money by adopting this habit too.

Running water when you're soaping up and scrubbing the dishes is not necessary. Try to organize your sink setup to where you are able to scrub the dishes, then turn on the water to rinse, allowing you to minimize the time your water is running.

Similar to a low-flow faucet, there are also shower heads that can reduce the amount of water used by optimizing the water pressure and flow.

Low flow faucets intentionally push only the amount of water necessary for activities like washing your hands or showering. Depending on your current faucet and what you transition to, you could reduce unnecessary water usage by 50% or more!

Putting insulation on your water pipes can reduce the loss of heat, allowing you to use less energy in heating water and less water waiting for it to get warm. It can also help manage condensation that can cause corrosion or drips into your basement.

We often have fresh, clean water falling from the sky that we can use for all sorts of things - but few people collect it. You can reduce your water use and reliance on municipal water by using rain barrels. However, this isn't legal in all states unfortunately.

Drip irrigation can conserve impressive amounts of water and fertilizer compared to hand watering or other irrigation systems. By placing the drip irrigation strategically to nourish the plant, you're avoiding overwatering or aggressive water pressures that can wash away soil and valuable nutrients.

Greywater systems are designed to reuse water after running through a washing machine, shower, or sinks. This is often used for irrigation in gardens and lawns. It is essential to use all natural and plant-friendly cleaners for any water that is used in a greywater system.

Home appliances like dishwashers have come a long way in terms of efficiency gains. By upgrading to a modern, Energy Star certified dishwasher, you can enjoy significant savings in energy and water consumption.

Dual flush toilets usually have two buttons on top rather than a lever. One button is for a lighter flush that uses less water. This allows you to intentionally reduce the amount of water used depending on what you're flushing.

A 'military shower' is a common name for a method of showering where you rinse, turn the water off and scrub with soap, and then turn the water on again to rinse off. The entire goal of this is to conserve as much water as possible.

Native plants are well-acclimated to the local environment, so they do not require fertilizers, extra watering, or additional maintenance like non-native plants do.

In recent years, washing machines have continued to become more and more efficient in terms of energy and water use. Depending on your current model, you could see a tremendous improvement by upgrading to an Energy Star certified washer.