In light of current social, political, and environmental climates, water conservation can seem unimportant compared to the list of issues that the world needs to tackle. What you might not know, however, is that saving H2O affects the community as a whole.
From an individual viewpoint, water conservation can have a financial impact. The average American household needlessly uses 100 gallons of water per day. This equates to energy bills of $500 or more, yet you can reduce your overheads to less than $200 with eco-friendly fixtures and fittings.
Of course, the tricks of the trade are not always clear. But in places like California that are constantly experiencing droughts or water shortages, it’s imperative to learn. Here are five ways to conserve water if you live in California.
Fix Leaks
A leaky faucet can have a surprising impact on your water bill. Unfortunately, it’s not the only place where you may have water leaking unnecessarily as the majority of leaks are hidden and unnoticeable. As a result, one-fifth of homes are not water efficient.
The key is to focus on the following places:
- Toilets
- Irrigation systems
- Pools
- Fountains
- Broken pipes
If all of the above are leaking and you’re unaware, you may be losing up to 5,000 gallons of water a day, which is an unbelievable amount. Beverly Hills residents can use this free tracker to see if they have leaks or are using too much water.
Take Shorter Showers
At an average flow rate of 2.1 gallons per minute and lasting 7.8 minutes, your shower will use 15.8 gallons of water per day. And, that’s for a single session. If there are multiple people in your household taking showers every day, you can multiply the amount accordingly.
Taking shorter showers is an effective way to cut water usage. However, if eight minutes doesn’t seem like enough time, you should consider switching a standard head for a low-flow alternative.
Install A New Water Heater
Heaters are where most homes experience inefficiency. Water heaters are essential as they regulate hot and cold water to your faucets and appliances. Sadly, old boilers tend not to believe in water conservation since they were created generations ago when saving the planet wasn’t a priority.
However, new heaters are more efficient. They activate more quickly, so you won’t have to run the shower so long before jumping in, for example. Also, modern boilers maintain a steady temperature even when they aren’t actively working. Therefore, the energy wastage isn’t as high as they don’t have to stop and start again every time you require hot water.
If you have questions about getting a new water heater, a water heater company in Beverly Hills could be the answer. An expert will be able to recommend the right solution for your home.
Plant Native Flowers That Require Less Water
Gardeners, you shouldn’t be ashamed of your hobby. Gardening has physical and mental benefits that make the pastime incredibly healthy. However, your choice of plants may increase your energy footprint.
Lots of southern California gardens boast roses and hydrangeas, but they aren’t natives. This is important because native flowers use less water as they are adapted to survive the hot Southern Californian climate.
Indigenous flowers include the following
- Hoary California fuchsia
- Toyon
- Lemonade Berry
- Desert Mallow
Try planting a few of these to beautify your garden and conserve water!
Water Your Garden Early In The Morning
Just because your garden is full of indigenous plants doesn’t mean they don’t need a little help. Where possible, it’s essential to add water and nutrients to the soil to ensure the roots have enough food and fluids to prosper. But, timing in southern California is essential as the sun’s rays will cause H2O to evaporate.
Once this happens, your flowers and lawn will absorb less water and need more to prevent them from wilting and dying. Watering your garden early in the morning, between 5 and 9 am, stops evaporation from occurring. The same applies to watering the yard during the evening, yet you must be careful as the temperature can still be high even if it feels cooler.
By implementing a few of these measures in your Southern California home, you’ll be both conserving water, protecting the planet, and saving money!
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