Ann Arbor Real Estate Series-Water Conservation in Your Home

In the U.S. alone, over 410 billion gallons of water is used every day.  The average household uses about 350 gallons daily, adding up to over 120,000 gallons a year.  Not only does this high water usage deplete our global water supply, it costs money in heating and utility bills.  By switching to water saving technologies and implementing simple conservation measures, households can reduce their daily water use by up to 35%, saving billions of gallons per day nationally.

There are numerous measures you can take to help reduce the amount of water used in your home.  One of the easiest ways to save water is to turn off faucets when you aren’t using them.

• This includes while you are shaving, shampooing your hair, washing dishes, or soaping up. Just turning off the water while brushing your teeth can save you over 25 gallons of water every month.
• Instead of running the water while doing dishes, consider filling up the sinks with soap on one side and rinse water on the other. This will save you gallons of water every time you clean. If you have to use the dishwasher, be sure and run full loads.
• The same applies to your clothes washer and dryer. By doing so, you can save thousands of gallons of water every month and minimize the amount of soaps and detergents you use. Don’t do laundry unless you have to.
• Reuse towels multiple times before washing them to prevent unnecessary water usage. When preparing meals, defrost food in the fridge or microwave instead of running hot water over them. This will prevent you from literally watching water go down the drain without truly serving a purpose.
• Finally, dispose of spiders and tissues in the trash can instead of flushing them down the toilet. Since toilets (even low-flow models) use between 1.5 and 6 gallons per flush, unnecessary flushing is a direct drain off your water supply.

In addition to implementing water conservation methods inside your home, there are some things you can do outside to help minimize water use as well.

• Consider using a commercial carwash that uses recycled water instead of washing your car yourself.
• Cover pools, spas, and hot tubs to prevent evaporation, especially in off-seasons when you rarely use them.
• Use a broom instead of a hose to clean porch, driveway, etc. Both serve the same purpose, but using a broom can help save gallons of water every time.
• One of the biggest uses of water in and around homes is outside in the garden and lawn.

Some areas have strict water use codes, especially areas prone to droughts.  Check with your city administration to find out what the water codes are in your area and be sure to follow them.  Regional codes typically provide water saving techniques that can help save you money, so it is a good idea to always keep them in mind, even if droughts end and codes relax.

Making daily choices to help conserve water can help reduce your water use and heating bills by up to 35%.  Many of the choices you can make are either free or very inexpensive, yet can save you hundreds of dollars every year. In addition to financial benefits, saving water helps conserve the world’s natural resources, making it friendly to both your wallet and the environment.

Next week, Ann Arbor Real Estate Series will talk about additional steps a homeowner can take to reduce water consumption and save on their water utility expense.

As always, we here at Prudential Snyder & Company Realtors are here to assist you with any of your Ann Arbor Area home buying, home selling, rental or other Ann Arbor real estate needs.

Call us at 734-747-7500 or 734-747-7700 weekdays, or 734-660-0105 evenings and weekends. We’re also available via email at info@prusnyder.com or online at www.prusnyder.com anytime. Choose Prudential Snyder and Company for the best Ann Arbor Realtors!