Tuesday, 24 December 2013

Green Apartment Living: Saving Water

By Newton Kershaw


The same with home owners, apartment renters can do their part to conserve water by being cognizant of their water usage during daily activities. Each person uses a large amount of water each day, whether it is drinking water, water used to bathe or clean, water used in toilets and water used on plants. By being aware of where this water is being used, you can then take some simple steps to cut back on your water usage. Everyone benefits when everyone does their part, especially in a drought.

Low-flow showerheads have become fairly standard in apartments these days. If your apartment doesn't come with a low-flow head, you might consider swapping out your current one. The reduction in water use can really add up over time, since each shower only uses a portion of the water it would with a normal showerhead. Another technique would be to switch the water off while lathering or shaving and limiting shower length overall. While still on the subject of the shower, a tank-less water heater can save electricity by only heating water when you need it.

You can also be on the lookout for instances of wasted water, such as when people leave the faucet running while they brush their teeth or wash the dishes. It's just a simple matter of turning it off when you're not really using it that can be of great benefit.

Certain appliances might be taking more water than necessary. You may want to investigate the settings on items like the dishwasher and washing machine, and see if you adjust them to use less water. You might even be able to eliminate the step of rinsing dishes by using the right settings and detergent. With both laundry and dishes, it's good to wait until you have a full load before starting a cycle. You can look at any appliance that uses water, even small ones like coffee makers, and see if you can make small adjustments.

But what's often the biggest culprit in water consumption is the toilet. On some older toilets, a single flush can use around three gallons, which is more than most need. If your toilet uses too much water, a simple trick is to place an item in the toilet tank to take up space, such as shut container of small rocks. This will reduce the volume of water in the tank, and therefore, its usage.

This is an easily reversible change that won't harm the toilet, so long as you make sure that any small pieces are stable enough to not get sucked through the pipe.

Waste not, want not, they say, and that can apply to water. If you take advantage of rain, you can use it to water your plants instead of using tap water. Simply place them outside during a rainstorm. If you place a bucket or other receptacle out as well, you can save some rainwater for plants, or even for cleaning outdoor furniture or muddy boots.

While living in an apartment, there are plenty of ways you can save water with some creative thinking. Not only will your water bill be smaller, but you can have a helpful impact on the environment. If others see the measures you take to save water, they might even join in.




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