Give the Gift That Keeps on Saving
Posted by Park on Tuesday, December 2nd, 2008 at 9:36 am
December is typically the time to shop for others. So, while you’re at it, why not consider a gift for your home and/or for the environment? Water-efficient devices and appliances give back all year not only in terms of the amount of water saved, but also money saved on your water bill, wastewater bill and often even your energy bill.
With climate change being discussed by the media daily, these gift ideas are perfect to help reduce your carbon footprint.
- Front loading washers may cost a bit more, but they are more water and energy efficient. The increased capacity means fewer loads of laundry. Less water is used, so there is less water to heat. And, the higher speed spin cycle removes more water, easing the dryer’s work load, as well. A family of four can save 1,000 gallons a month.
- Water efficient dishwashers can also save you both water and energy. If your dishwasher is more than a decade old, newer dishwashers are now using one-third to one-half less water. Save 1,200 gallons a year with a new water-efficient model.
- Low-flow showerheads provide amazing savings. Cut your water use dramatically by replacing a 4 gallon per minute (gpm) head with a model that uses 2.5 gpm or less and save up to 12 gallons or more for each eight minute shower. Multiply that out for a family of four and you’ll save up to 1,400 gallons of water monthly.
- High efficiency toilets are the latest and greatest water savers you can get for your home. This certainly has an impact – easily saving you up to 1,200 gallons a month. Think about pairing it up with new flooring for the bathroom, since that’s the best time to replace a toilet.
- Landscape renovations can turn a thirsty landscape to a low water-using Xeriscape and can cut your outdoor water use in half. Since 50-70 percent of household water is commonly used outdoors, the savings can add up to as much as 50,000 gallons a year for an average sized yard.
If you’ve great a an idea for a holiday gift that can save water, please share it with the water world below in the comments section. For 100+ other ways to save, click here.
Tags: conservation campaign, energy efficiency, energy efficient, front load washers, gift giving ideas, low flow toilets, Water - Use It Wisely, water conservation, water saving tips, Xeriscape
If you are serious about saving water, want a toilet that really works and is affordable, I would highly recommend a Caroma Dual Flush toilet. Caroma toilets offer a patented dual flush technology consisting of a 0.8 Gal flush for liquid waste and a 1.6 Gal flush for solids. Caroma, an Australian company set the standard by giving the world its first successful two button dual flush system in the nineteen eighties and has since perfected the technology. Also, with a full 3.5″ trapway, these toilets virtually never clog. All of Caroma’s toilets are on the list of WaterSense labeled HET’s http://www.epa.gov/watersense/pp/find_het.htm and also qualify for several rebate programs currently available as well as LEED points. Please go to http://www.caromausa.com for more detailed information or visit http://www.ecotransitions.com/howto.asp to see why they actually work so well. Best regards, Andrea Paulinelli
It is really important to think about energy efficiency when buying appliances. Start with your washing machine. Choose those washers that has extra cleaning features. In this washer, you won’t have to use hot water settings all the time. The heating element of washers gobble up a lot on energy. So be able to pick a washer that can still keep your clothes clean even when you are only using cold water function.