Were you aware that over 90 percent of all water that enters a home ends up down a drain? Consider how many times the shower is run, a faucet is left on, or a toilet is flushed, and this number may begin to seem less unbelievable. When we complete tasks that require water often times the amount of water that is being used is not taken into consideration. As we approach Earth Day 2011, think about making a change in the way water is used around your home. If you are unsure where to make changes, water conservation kits may be just what you need to get started.
The Cost of Showers
After a hard day it can be easy to take a long shower without realizing how much time and water is spent in there. Showering accounts for as much as 17% of all residential water use, 17% of the water bill. Water conservation kits contain eco-friendly shower heads that will reduce the amount of water used by 30% as well as a timer to help you see how much time is spent in there. The reduction in shower water use will also mean a reduction in the amount of energy required to heat the water. Annual savings amount to about 5,400 gallons of water. The dollar amount is about $107 with an electric water heater, and $68 in gas water heating every year.
Saving at the Faucet
The average faucet aerator in kitchens and bathrooms use 2.2 gallons of water. This is almost the same amount of water used by the average showerhead (2.5 gallons per minute). The water pressure it takes to wash your hands or vegetables does not need to be as high as the water pressure in the shower. Installing the low flow faucet aerator in water saving kits will reduce the amount of water that is used at the sink by up to 32%.
What is really being flushed down the toilet?
The most indoor residential water use occurs in the bathroom. Water saving kits contain items to help reduce the amount of water and money that is wasted with each flush. A dual conversion kit provides two separate flushing options, while a toilet tank bank is a displacement bag that will reduce the amount of water used by 0.8 gallons per flush. The toilet leak detection tablets provided in water conservation kits can help prevent thousands of gallons of water waste and hundreds of dollars from being wasted on water that is not even being used.
Water saving kits are ideal for anyone who has an interest in saving water, but is not exactly sure where to begin. The water-efficient items will allow you to start reducing water use all over the house. Not only will you be saving water, but energy anywhere there is hot water being used through these fixtures. If as little as 1 out of every 100 homes in the US had water-friendly fixtures, the reduction in greenhouse gas emissions would equal taking approximately 15,000 automobiles off the road for an entire year. This coming Earth Day that is definitely something worth considering.