Sink and Suds
A leaky faucet can waste up to 10,407 litres of water each year.
The main reason for dripping faucets is worn-out washers. A new one costs about 25 cents.
Install inexpensive low-flow spray attachments to your tap for maximum convenience and energy savings.
If you need just a small amount of water, stick to cold. Otherwise, you’re paying for hot water that never reaches the tap.
Hand-washing your dishes uses more hot water than using the dishwasher. Really!
Always use energy-saving dishwasher cycles.
Run your dishwasher only when it is full.
Your dishwasher’s heat-dry setting uses a lot of energy and adds unnecessary heat to your home in summer. Turn off the dry cycle and air-dry your dishes instead.
Avoid putting your dishwasher next to the refrigerator. The heat produced by the dishwasher makes your refrigerator work harder.
Soaking dishes before putting them in the dishwasher is only necessary for burned- or dried-on food.
Rinse dirty dishes in cold water, not hot or warm.
Avoid using the rinse-and-hold setting on the dishwasher.
Load dishes according to the manufacturer’s directions for optimum performance.
Bathroom
Showers use three to six times less hot water than baths.
Try to keep your shower time to five minutes or less.
Install a low-flow showerhead to reduce hot water waste.
Fix leaky faucets promptly.
Turn off the tap while shaving or brushing your teeth.
Use bathroom fans only when necessary, and limit use to three minutes to avoid heat loss.
Use an old-fashioned manual toothbrush.
Shave with a non-electric shaver.
Bathroom heat lamps waste money.
Install a low-flow toilet. Otherwise, place a water-filled container or gravel in the tank.
Avoiding Hot Water
Consider replacing hot water heaters with high-efficiency models.
Insulate your accessible hot water pipes with inexpensive coverings available in any hardware store.
Shower with a friend.
Check the temperature setting on your hot-water heater. Dishwashers without a heat booster require 140ºF (60°C). Otherwise, you can safely operate your tank as low as 115ºF (46°C).
Install an insulating blanket around your hot water tank, but avoid covering the thermostat. Gas units are more complicated, and professional advice is recommended.
Carefully drain two litres from your hot water tank every three months to remove sediment and improve efficiency.
Bedroom
If you must use a waterbed, strategically position it so the sun shines on it.
Use Styrofoam to insulate your waterbed’s sides, top and bottom.
Cover your waterbed with a quilt as soon as you get up.
If your waterbed has a temperature control, keep it turned down.
Install a timer if your waterbed doesn’t have temperature control.
An insulated mattress cover can save you even more.
Invest in a cat or two to snuggle up at night for extra warmth.
Space heaters are expensive to operate and represent a serious safety hazard for you and your family.
Electric blankets are safer and cheaper to operate than space heaters.
Investing in a down quilt means you can lower the heat at night.
Clean Up in the Laundry Room
Use energy-efficient appliances whenever possible.
Washing with cold water saves energy and lengthens the life of your clothing, by allowing garments to hold their shape and color.
Wash clothes in cold or warm water using detergent specially formulated for such settings.
Front-loading washing machines use 30 percent less water and are safer for your clothing.
Wash only full loads and adjust the water setting on your machine for smaller loads.
Avoid hanging too much wet laundry indoors, as this could cause moisture problems.
Don’t add wet items to a partially dry load, as this will make the dryer run longer than necessary.
Hanging your clothes to dry saves energy and prolongs their life.
Hanging your laundry outside to dry will speed up the process and leave a heavenly scent on your clothing. But remember that direct sunlight can fade the colors of your clothing.
Check your dryer vent seal to ensure it isn’t letting drafts into your home. Keep the dryer vent clean and free of obstructions.
Don’t over-dry your laundry. This wastes energy and shrinks your clothes.
Leave the next dryer load on top of the appliance to get a head start on drying and save energy.
Don’t allow the dryer to cool off before starting another load.
Dry heavy items such as towels together and leave lightweight fabrics for a separate cycle.
Clean the lint trap after every dryer load.
Electronics
Unplug seldom-used electronic products like stereo equipment and televisions to avoid a constant energy drain.
Your electronic equipment, wall plugs and cables are leaking electricity if they are warm to the touch.
Switch your family to old-fashioned board games and take away wasteful electronic gadgets. Your family could become closer.
Home Office
A larger screen and higher resolution require more energy.
A screensaver does not reduce energy consumption.
Laptops can use up to 90 percent less energy than larger computers.
Turn printers and copiers off when not in use.
Ink-jet printers consume less energy than laser printers.
Select office equipment with power management features.
Ensure energy-saving features are enabled.
Outdoors Lead Indoors
Use timers on exterior lights.
Better yet, install motion-sensor lights.
Better, better yet: Outdoor lights with photo sensors that automatically turn off when they sense sunlight.
Avoid decorative outdoor gas lamps.
Leaving a light and radio on when your home is unoccupied is your cheapest form of crime prevention.