Even those who do not find themselves struggling in our weakened economy may still have trouble when it comes to replacing some of the larger appliances in their homes. So perhaps a do-able solution for upgrading your home to save on water and energy is best achieved by taking one small step at a time.
Rid Yourself of That Water Waster!
So you may think you know which of your household appliances uses the most water on average. It has to be that huge clunky washing machine, right? No. Well than it must be the dishwasher because that thing sounds like there is an ocean in it when it’s running, so that has to be it. Nope. Thankfully, the appliance we are looking for is also the most affordable one to replace.
The appliance that wastes the most water in your household is actually the smallest one of them all. Your toilet is the single biggest user of your homes water supply. Flushing those toilets account for around 38%, or a bit over one-third, of the water an average household uses each day. Replace your current commodes for low-flow models and you can begin to cut the water consumption in your home by 25% or even more. Cost to replace your homes toilets should be minimal and around approximately $100 dollars for the equipment.
The Water Hog
Your washing machine is a huge water hog. Not the biggest waster of water in your home, but second only to your dishwasher. An average washing machine can use up to 54 gallons of water for each load of clothes you wash.
You can purchase an energy and water conserving model of washer that can help to save loads of water and money. These efficient models are designed to shrink water usage up to 26 gallons or less per load. This is a significant savings for even a single person household, a phenomenal one for a family of four or five. More about Cardiff Plumbers | Cardiff Electrical
If your family cannot afford to purchase one outright, the best option could be utilizing the layaway, or pay-ahead payments at large appliance stores that provide these options. Another option is to seek a used model with the energy star label.
Your Favorite Appliance
Although the dishwasher is currently the most favored appliance in the household for many reasons, on a conservation level it also supplies more efficient water usage on average. So when you upgrade to a high efficiency model of clothes washer, you should begin to create a significant difference in the water usage in your home.
An energy efficient model of washer will use 30 to 50% less water than your old model. That adds up to around 5,000 gallons per year. Unless you pay for your water supply though, you may not notice a difference. However, you are sure to notice the difference when your energy bill arrives, as a water efficient dishwasher will also require 50 to 60% less energy to run. Grocery bills should also take notice that they will be declining as an energy efficient dishwasher will also require around one-third less detergent.
For the dishwasher, the same notion applies as to your clothes washer. The best option is to try to find a rent-to-own or layaway-plan if you cannot afford an outright purchase. These appliances do not come cheap, but upon purchasing, they will certainly begin to pay for themselves from the first time you use them, until your next upgrade!