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1.     http   www allianceforwaterefficiency org Toilet Retrofit Devices aspx    6  U S  Environmental Protection Agency     Water Efficient Toilets      http   www epa gov WaterSense products toilets html    7  Alliance for Water Efficiency     Frugal Flushing     http   www home water works org indoor   use toilets    8  U S  Environmental Protection Agency     Drinking Water Costs and Federal Funding      http   water epa gov lawsregs guidance sdwa upload 2009 08 28 sdwa fs 30ann dwsrf web pdf   8  U S  Environmental Protection Agency     Water Efficient Showerheads      http   www epa gov WaterSense products showerheads html    9  U S  Environmental Protection Agency     Green Building  Laundry Room  amp  Basement      http   www epa gov greenhomes Basement htm    10  Mekonnen  M M  and Hoekstra  A Y   2010  The green  blue and grey water footprint of farm  animals and animal products  Value of Water Research Report Series No 48  UNESCO IHE     11  Hoekstra  2008     The water footprint of food     http   www waterfootprint org Reports Hoekstra     2008 WaterfootprintFood pdf    The following pages are for reference information only  and don   t need to  be discussed at the water session     Transition Streets  3 23 OTHER WATER SAVING OPTIONS    Rainwater harvesting   Rainwater harvesting is a great way to reduce your overall water use wherever  you live in the country  Rainwater is ideal for ornamental landscaping as well as  edible gardens  though it may be questionable fo
2.    As we saw in the energy section  we can   t manage something if we can   t  measure it  Because they come so infrequently  relying on meter readings  from your regular water bill does not give you much information about your  water consumption  or if it is going up or down as a result of the actions  you are taking  Also  it is difficult to determine if you have a water leak  as  it will blend in to the baseline water use           Read your own water meter regularly  Just being more aware of how much  water you use can have a positive impact on your household   s water  wastage  It also shows you the actual results and savings from all your  efforts with the other actions in this section     Your water meter is likely located outside near the curb in front of your  home in a concrete box labeled    water    or with a stamp of your water  providers logo  In some areas  usually  in colder climates  your water meter  may be located inside your home  Indoor meters are usually found in the  basement  Carefully remove the lid or housing for your meter and look out  for insects that may be living in the dark box  See page 3 6 for advice on  reading your meter     To check for leaks  turn off all taps and water using appliances  Then check    your meter  If the dial is still turning  then you likely have a leak     Yes  but       have no idea where my meter is  If you can   t find your meter then call your  local water provider and they will be able to tell you where it is     Tr
3.  tremendously in how much water they use per  wash  Older models can use as much as 56 gallons per load  where the  modern high efficiency models average closer to 14 4 gallons per load      For households that do many small loads of laundry  there are smaller  machines that are even more water efficient     When using your washing machine make sure you know about the different  cycles   many have a half load or eco load option  Take a look at the manual  which should tell you how much water  and energy  the different options  use  If you plan to buy a new one  make sure that it   s water efficient     Washing at a lower temperature doesn   t save water  but it will save on your  water heating costs  Many powders and liquids are designed to work at  lower temperatures  and they work well     Yes  but       have to keep up with the washing  or else it becomes a mountain in this  house  Consider how often you really need to wash your clothes  After every wear  We  often wash things that don   t need it out of habit   if it doesn   t look dirty or smell too  bad  it may last another day     Transition Streets  3 14 WASHING CLOTHES       e When replacing your old washing machine  make sure to buy a water efficient  model  See product comparisons at www energystar gov products   Also   check with your local water provider for information on potential rebates     e More expensive models that use less water will generally still save you money  in the long run     e When using your w
4. 3  Spend less on water    TRANSITION          Transition Streets The Practica  3 1 SPEND LESS ON WATER action P       Water covers about 70  of the Earth   s surface  however  less than 1  of  that water is available for human consumption  This small fraction must  be shared globally for domestic  agricultural  industrial  and environmental  needs     In the US  the average person uses about 99 gallons of water every day  1   and national consumption appears to be growing annually  2  In the last  five years  nearly every region of the county has experienced water  shortages   2    In Fall 2014  the US Pentagon declared that Climate Change was a major  threat to US National security  as rising temperature and changing  precipitation patterns present a risk to food and water security     If we do not take action now  climate change  population growth  and  wasteful behavior will mean facing increased water stress in the future   The good news is that through awareness of how we use water  we can  make decisions about how to conserve this precious resource and in  doing so  create more resilient and sustainable communities     In the US approximately 60  of domestic water is used outdoors  and the  other 40  inside of our homes  The key to efficiency is reducing waste   not necessarily restricting  your use  You can easily    Indoor Household Water Use              leaks 13 7  Other 2 3   reduce waste by making 3    small behavioral changes Dishwasher 1 4  Toilet 26 8   and by 
5. and small raised beds     e Giving your plants    roots a good soaking once or twice a week in dry weather is  much better than lightly watering them every day  Water should be directed  underneath the foliage  There should be enough to wet the top few inches of  soil  where most plants    roots are     e Don   t over water     there is no need for hanging baskets and containers to  drip after watering  Many plants can still do well when watered little  but daily   Over watering may also weaken plants     e Sprinklers can use as much as 260 gallons of water per hour  If you really must   use it early in the morning or late in the evening     e Mulching soil around your plants will not only keep away water loving weeds   but will also keep the soil cool and decrease evaporation     e Invest ina rain barrel  Every 1 000 square feet of roof area collects about 600  gallons of water for every inch of rainfall  This free source of water can be used  during dry periods between storms and can significantly reduce your use of  fresh potable water     e Grey water systems are a great way to reuse sink and shower water to irrigate  your landscape instead of using fresh drinking water  see section 3 24 for  more info   When using grey water  be cautious that you do not treat grey  water as an excuse to be lax with indoor water use     e Rather than washing your car with a running hose  try using a bucket and  sponge instead  ideally fill the bucket from the rain barrel      e For more i
6. ansition Streets  3 4 KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ARE USING    Sample water meter readings log    Water Meter Reading  cu  ft         n a  1 08 2015 20 130  1 15 2015 20 221 oOo a  1 22 2015 20 307 86       Next steps  hints   amp  tips    e Complete the usage calculator on page 3 22 to estimate your average daily  consumption  Compare it to the national average of 99 gallons  13 2 cubic  feet  per person per day     e Check your meter at least monthly  particularly if your meter is located outside  your property  You pay for all water that flows through the meter  even leaks     e If you re making changes to reduce water use  try reading your meter weekly  for a while  and see what difference it   s making  Use the sample water meter  readings log provided above     e Keep the log visible   stick it on the fridge so everyone in the household can  see it  You may consider rewarding everyone for their efforts by sharing some  of the savings     e lf there is more than one meter outside your house  find the meter with the  number that listed on your water bill     Notes     Transition Streets   3 5 ADVICE ON READING YOUR METER    There are two common types of water meters  the straight reading meter which  resembles the mileage indicator in an automobile soeedometer  see Figure 1    and the round reading meter which has several separate dials  see Figure 2         In Figure 1  the reading is taken from the figures shown under the words    cubic  feet     The meter reads 008171  which is 
7. ap wastes over  1 7 gallons per minute  l8        Dripping taps are not just annoying  they can add up to staggering water  losses if left untreated  as you can see in the table below  Dripping taps  often just need a new washer  which only cost a few cents  Leaky pipes are  also just dripping away your money  inside or out     1 drop per second 1 300  2 60    Drops breaking to a stream 8 200  16 40    Cost estimates based on approximate national average of  2 1 000 gallons           Check regularly for drips and leaks  To fix a dripping tap  first of all  try  changing the washer  Also make sure your water pipes and external taps are  insulated in time for the cold winter months  Burst water pipes can cause  serious damage as well as waste a lot of water     In addition to fixing your leaks  consider old faucets with a WaterSense  faucet or accessory  These devices reduce water flow rates by 30  from a  standard faucet  while maintaining water pressure     Yes  but       changed the washer and it   s still dripping  A dripping tap usually means  that the tap washer needs renewing  but it can also be caused by a damaged valve  seating  If the drip is from a mixer nozzle  then change both tap washers     Transition Streets vactical  3 10 TAPS  DRIPS   amp  LEAKS    n Plan       You can save an additional 3 000  gallons of water a year  if you turn off  the tap while you brush your teeth     assuming you do this for 2 minutes  twice a day   You can improve on    Search for a Yo
8. ashing machine  make sure to use a full load every time   Surveys have shown that a typical load of laundry is usually much less than the  maximum capacity of the model     e If you really need to do a wash but don t have a full load  use the half load  feature  However some half loads will use almost as much water as a full load      so two half loads will use more water and energy than one full load     e If you re purchasing a new machine  choose a model with a capacity that is  appropriate for your situation  If you live alone  consider a smaller  apartment  sized model     e Familiarize yourself with your washing machine   s cycle options  Some settings  provide the same cleaning power but with less water and energy  Check your  user manual or contact the manufacturer     e Avoid pre washing  Most modern washing machines and washing powders are  so effective that you don   t have to pre rinse     e Use the    High Efficiency     HE  detergents with the modern front loading  machines  They are specifically designed to keep dirt and grime suspended in  lower volumes of water     e For a great explanation about different machine    types  visit  htto   www allianceforwaterefficiency org Residential Clothes Washer Intro    duction aspx    Notes     Transition Streets  3  15 THE KITCHEN SINK       The kitchen tap and dishwasher account for about 16  of water used in the  home  so there   s a huge opportunity here to reduce water wastage  P   Kitchen taps vary tremendously in 
9. at grey water  including plumbing codes  system designs  and best maintenance practices     Transition Streets  3 24 REDUCING YOUR WATER FOOTPRINT    The World Wildlife Fund  WWF  and other experts believe that it   s essential  to break the link between economic growth and higher water usage  They  suggest that agricultural practices like rainwater harvesting for irrigation are  one way  We could also cut consumption patterns that require ever more  water  e g   buy less    water heavy    goods  often grown miles away from us in  countries that have water shortages  like cotton from Pakistan  See the table  below for some hidden water costs in our food  14J    Average Water Use in    oe Gallons Pound  Apple or pear 83  Banana 102  Beef 1 832  Cabbage 24  Cheese 591  Chicken 461  Coffee 17  Cucumber or pumpkin 28  Dates 355  Groundnuts  in shell  366  Lettuce 15  Maize 106  Mango 189  Olives 520  Orange 54  Peach or nectarine 142  Pork 567  Potato 30  Rice 402  Sugar  from sugar cane  4  Tomato 14    Values calculated from Hoekstra  2008        Controversially  as water becomes scarcer  some countries may have to  give up growing certain crops and rearing animals  When the water needed  to grow crops has to be pumped hundreds of metres from below  the true  cost of food on supermarket shelves becomes clearer     wrote journalist John  Vidal  The Guardian 29 09 06     For more info visit http   www waterfootprint org  page files Animal   products    
10. choosing more Bath 1 7  Y    water efficient appliances     Saving water will not only  help reduce environmental  impacts  if you are ona  water meter  it will also save  you money on your water Shower 16 7     a nd power bi   Is Source  Awwa Research Foundation  1999   Percent breakdown of indoor water use      Faucet 15 7     Clothes Washer 21 7        Each of these actions can significantly reduce the amount of water that  your household uses  Even if you are not on a meter  it is important to  conserve this most precious resource  and to consider the related carbon  emissions that come from the transport  treatment  and heating of all the  water that we use     Some of these actions will cost you nothing  and some will cost you a little  money  but this can be offset by the reduction in your water and power  bills      In your group  have a brief chat about the items  and then decide which  ones you want to tackle and when  Record your own action plan on the  page at the end of this section        Know how much you are using  3 3     e Feeling flushed  3 6    e Taps  drips   amp  leaks  3 9   e Showers  amp  baths  3 11   e Washing clothes  3 13   e The kitchen sink  3 15   e Outdoors  3 17        The actions listed above are the basic  but most cost effective  things you  can do in your home  At the end of the section are several other actions  that you may wish to consider  once you ve done the basics     Notes      Transition Streets  is 3 KNOW HOW MUCH YOU ARE USING 
11. ectric showers or low   pressure gravity shower systems     e Buy an aerated showerhead  which adds air pressure to the flow  These too  may not suitable for some electric or low pressure gravity systems     e Geta shower timer to help limit your  and your teenager   s   time  Some can  tell you how much water you are using  and alerts you when you ve had the  max recommended amount     e These products are generally available online through sites such as  www biggreensmile com     e Take a cooler shower  which also helps you to avoid temporary varicose veins    You ll tend to get out of there quicker too     e Save the cold water that runs while waiting for the hot   keep a bucket or  watering can handy then water the plants or use it to flush the toilet once  you re finished     e If you do have a bath  you can siphon out your bath water and use it to water  your garden or flush your toilet     e For more info  call your local water provider or visit  http   www epa gov WaterSense products showerheads html    Notes       Transition Streets    13 WASHING CLOTHES       The average water consumption of washing machines is about 31 45  gallons per wash   although modern machines use less than older models   it   s still quite a bit of water  Washing clothes accounts for about 22  of the  water that we use in our homes  so by reducing wastage in this area we can  make significant water savings   the average family does almost 400 loads a  year   34 91       Washing machines vary
12. er scarcity        Photos above from flickr  Sprinkler by Robert Couse Baker and rain barrel by Metropolitan Planning Council  Licensed under Creative  Commons https   creativecommons org licenses by 2 0     When planning your landscaping  consider using native or horticultural  varieties of native plants  These plants are typically better suited for the  local weather patterns  and provide excellent micro habitat for native insect  and bird species     By using water efficient gardening practices like drip irrigation  mulching   and soil moisture sensors  you can still have a beautiful  living garden even  in times of extreme drought     Try to avoid using tap water to water the garden  Instead  collect rainwater  in a rain barrel  rainwater is also better for your plants  and or consider  reusing water  or grey water  on the garden  See reference section at end  for more info on grey water and on rainwater harvesting systems     Yes  but       can   t use my old bath water for the garden due to the bath soap   Biodegradable soaps are now widely available  These soaps use compounds that easily  break down over time in the soil     Transition Streets  3 18 OUTDOORS          Your hose uses as much as 23 gallons of water per minute   4 Placing a nozzle  on your hose can reduce the water output to under gallon a minute by cutting  the waste between watering areas and allowing you to use water where and  when you really need it     e Use a watering can for watering potted plants 
13. flow volume  and behaviors such as how  much you twist the tap and for how long you leave it turned on influence  how much water is used when you wash up        Photo via flickr by Steve Johnson  Licensed under Creative Commons    https   creativecommons org licenses by 2 0 legalcode    Washing up or rinsing dishes under a running tap can use dozens of gallons  of water  but if you use a washing up bowl or plug your sink  you can  dramatically reduce water wastage     A common misconception is that dishwashers use more water  In fact  these  machines can be water savers   if used wisely  In the 1980s  dishwashers  used as much as 14 gallons per cycle  but modern models can use as little  as 4 gallons   sometimes even less than washing up by hand  4     If you are thinking about buying a new dishwasher  you can refer to the  rankings on www energystar gov products  for guidance on which models  are the most water efficient     Yes  but     sometimes I have to wait for ages for hot water to arrive at the tap  which  wastes lots of cold water down the sink  Collect all the waste cold water in a watering  can that you leave by the sink  then use it on the garden or your houseplants     Transition Streets  3 16 THE KITCHEN SINK          Next steps  hints   amp  tips    e Consider installing a more water efficient tap  or a tap aerator  Aerators in  particular are cheap and simple quick fixes that you can do yourself     e When washing up by hand  either use a washing up bowl or pl
14. labeled   your local waste water provider  e Many water providers will offer  saving you money in the long run     free water displacement devices    for their customers     e Make your own from a large plastic  bottle filled with water  or filled  with sand and seal it well     e Flush less often   if it   s yellow let it  mellow  if it   s brown  flush it down   This can drastically reduce usage     Put trash in a trash can  e Check that the water level in your   not the toilet  tank is set correctly to the mark  which will be about 25mm below  the overflow  If it is just below the  overflow it will be flushing about  one litre more than the designed  amount        Notes     e For more info visit    www epa gov watersense  prod uct    s toilets or call your local water  provider     Transition Streets  3 8 FEELING FLUSHED    Water  Consumption       1950s     1980s Single 7 0   5 0 gallons    1980 1994 Single 3 5 4 5 gallons    1994  present        standard  Single 1 6 gallons  1994  present   high efficiency  Single 1 3 gallons  Present Dual 1 1 gallon on    average       Note  All toilets are stamped with a date  which will be more helpful than trying to  figure out your toilet   s age based on the photo  More information is available from the  Alliance for Water Efficiency  7       Transition Streets  3  9 TAPS  DRIPS   amp  LEAKS    Often our water bill is higher than it needs to be  and we   re not even using  all of the water we re paying for  For example  a running t
15. llons   and beef about 1 800 gallons   14     If present levels of consumption continue  two thirds of the global  population will live in areas of water stress by 2025  Over the last decade   extreme weather events such as heat waves  floods  and droughts occurring  at greater frequencies  Though many parts of our country are as lush and  rainy  those regions are not immune from water scarcity problems  We  too   can run out of water     e What do you think is an acceptable level of water consumption  gallons  per person per day      e Besides water efficiency  what else can we do to reduce our overall water  consumption     e Do you feel you have enough information to make informed choices  about the water impacts of what you buy  from t shirts to hamburgers    See section 3 26 for more      e Should the government insist that all households are metered to help  ensure we take water efficiency more seriously     Notes     Transition Streets  3 21 QUICK USAGE ESTIMATER    Activity Times Per Day Weekly Estimated  Total Amount of  Water  Used fin  gallons     Tues Thur    Sun   Mon Fr    Pa     Toilet Flushing    Short Shower   5 10 minutes     og    Long Shower maS      gt 10 minutes     a  Cc   T  Bu  gy   rr  T    aS    o M    Brushing Teeth   running water     Brushing Teeth   water turned  a    Shaving         Washing Dishes   running water       30    Washing Dishes   Filling a basin             PJ hh in        Running a  Dishwasher    10  20  Washing  5  Clothes    Wate
16. nformation on Rainwater Harvesting and drought resilient  landscaping  see Brad Lancaster   s series at www harvestingrainwater com    e For more information on plants that are native to your area  check out your  local Native Plant Society     Transition Streets  3 19 YOUR WATER ACTION PLAN       Possible actions     JJ   S e Know how much you are using      showers  amp  Baths  3 11       3 3  e Washing clothes  3 13       Feeling flushed  3 6        Q a L a E e The kitchen sink  3 15      amp  e Taps  drips   amp  leaks  3 9  r    Outdoors  3 17        What other ideas does your team have that aren   t covered above        Add them below if you think they are relevant for you       My actions Already   When PII  done do this    How can you help each other out in your team  List team actions here   with named person and due date      O   x  O  2                        Transition Streets  3 20 WATER  THE BIGGER PICTURE DISCUSSION    Each American uses about 99 gallons of tap water a day  but if you include  the amount of water embedded within products  our water consumption is  actually around 2 000 gallons every day  About 20 percent of the embedded  water that we consume comes from other nations  as we import goods and  services into our country   13     About two thirds of the water that we consume is embedded in our food   For example  a pound of tomatoes have about 14 gallons of water  embedded in them  apples about 83 gallons  tofu about 240 gallons  pork  about 570 ga
17. oilet  dam or aan early closing toilet flapper  These devices      reduce the amount of water used per flush by      displacing space in the water chamber above the    toilet  or reducing the amount of water released by  closing the plunger faster than a traditional buoyant  flapper     Note that these devices are only suitable for 3 5 gpf  toilets and above  Performance can vary between  toilet types  If it does not work or you want more  advice  contact your local water provider     Yes  but     Our toilet doesn   t flush well anyway  won   t this  make it even worse  Don   t use a water reduction device on  tanks of 3 5 or less  Try a smaller device if you need to flush  twice  Remove it altogether if even the smallest one causes a  problem   the idea is to reduce flushing  not increase it        Transition Streets  3 7 FEELING FLUSHED       By replacing old  inefficient toilets  e Many water providers offer rebates    the average family can reduce water for upgrading to more efficient  used by toilets by 20 60   equating to toilet models    13 000 gallons per home every year  e Use the table on the next page to  The savings on water use can also identify what type of toilet you  save more than  110 pear year  6  have  and what type of water  displacement device you should  Avoiding using your toilet as a waste probably be using  All toilets have  basket will also save money and help a date stamp and most should have  reduce the maintenance costs for the gallons per flush 
18. r use with root vegetables    When managed properly  rainwater harvesting can also help reduce urban runoff  from your property     Designs range from sophisticated systems with large underground tanks with  pumps  storing thousands of gallons  to smaller scale DIY systems that simply  gravity feed rainwater from large wall mounted barrels through the outside wall  to a toilet tank  The garden rain barrel is the simplest way of collecting rainwater   It does not need any treatment or mains backup  and it does not have to supply  water when temperatures are below freezing     Be sure you check your local plumbing code before installing a system  as many  states prohibit capturing runoff at home     The website www harvestingrainwater com has links to helpful information  online and some of the best literature on rainwater harvesting and other ways to  make your outdoor environment more drought tolerant     Greywater reuse systems   Grey water refers to all household wastewater other than wastewater from the  toilet  blackwater   Grey water from baths  showers  and laundry is less  contaminated than that from the kitchen  The most basic systems simply divert  cooled and untreated water to irrigate the garden  More advanced systems treat  water for re use in toilets  It is important that all grey water systems be free of  bleach  dyes  salts  cleansers  or shampoos and soaps containing non   biodegradable compounds     The website greywateraction org offers a comprehensive look 
19. ring Lawn   300         rt    Washing Car   og    Total Weekly Water Use  gallons     Average Daily Water Use  gallons   77      average Individual Daily Water Use fgallans  f by  number of  people  living at  home         You and your group can use this quick and easy water use estimator to give  you an idea about how much water your house uses every week     More thorough calculators are also available online  Wecalc org offers a very  in depth evaluation of your households water use based on behavior   appliances used in your home  and the age of your homes appliance  The final  screen lets you know not only how much water you use  but provides targeted  recommendations and estimates your carbon foot print from the water you  consume     Transition Streets  3 22 REFERENCE INFO     1  USGS     Domestic water withdrawals and deliveries     2005   http   water usgs gov edu wateruse pdf wudomestic 2005 pdf   2  U S  Environmental Protection Agency     WaterSense     2008     http   www epa gov WaterSense pubs supply htm    3  Aquacraft     Residential End Uses of Water     1999   http   listserver energy ca gov appliances 2013rulemaking documents responses Water Appliances    12 AAER 2C California IOU Response to CEC Invitation to Participate     Toilets and Urinals REFERENCES Aquacraft 1999 Residential End Uses of Water Study pdf   4  WECalc  2014  http   wecalc org WECalc data and assumptions pdf     5  Alliance for Water Efficiency     Toilet Retrofit Devices Introduction  
20. the total number of cubic feet of water  recorded since the meter was installed  The large hand is used only for testing  purposes and leak detection  Newer meters also have a small triangle that is  usually red or blue  that spin when water is used  They are sensitive and can even  detect small water drops that are leaking     The round meter has several small dials in a circle  and is a little more difficult to  read  The dials are marked off in ten divisions  and are read much like a clock   except that the hand on every other dial turns counterclockwise  In figure 2  to  check the readings  start with the    100 000    dial  and the readings are 8  O  6  3   and 2 or 80 632 cubic feet     Please call your local water utility if you have any difficulties in reading the  figures on your meter     Note  If you live in an older property you may have a different type of meter                CUBIC FEET  0l0 8 1 Fai    TP  2701 4  y         Figure 1      Transition Streets  a 6 FEELING FLUSHED       About a quarter of all the clean  drinkable  expensive    water we use in our homes is flushed down a toilet       An old style  pre 1980s  single flush toilet can use up  to 7 gallons of water in one flush  New  more water   efficient    Watersense    labeled toilets use as little as  1 3 gallons per flush  4 New dual flush toilets use on  average as little as 1 1 gallons per flush      If your toilet was made before 1992  consider  installing a water displacement device such as a t
21. uTube video called    e Some water providers distribute  free faucet aerators to their  customers     these savings by doing the same    Collins DIY Survival Demos   How  when you wash the veggies  or rinse to Fix a Dripping Tap      the dishes  e See your local hardware store     They often offer written guides or  will give you specific advice     e If you   re not into DIY  contact a  local plumber or handyman to do it  for you     e Check your pipes regularly for  visible leaks  also see section 3 4      e Use dye tabs to check if your toilet  has a leak  Replacement flappers  are often under S5        e Use the leftover water from your  night time drinks to water  houseplants     e Call your local water provider to ask  about free leak detection kits and  water reduction devices     e For more info visit  Www epa gov watersens prducts b  athroom sink faucets      Transition Streets ay s  3 11 SHOWERS  amp  BATHS Action P    CO2 d  low   medium    Baths and showers make up over 16  of the average American s water use   and represent one of the most opportune areas for indoor water  conservation        Baths typically use 45 gallons of water  whereas an ordinary shower uses  about a half of that amount  Over a year  if you take 4 baths a week  this  equates to an extra  20 worth of water  plus all the costs of heating the  water  4 Using showers most of the time  with the occasional bath  will  give significant savings     The average American spends 8 2 minutes in the sho
22. ug your sink   Then you can use what   s left over to water your houseplants     e Try to avoid thawing frozen foods under running water     e Keep a jug of water in the fridge so that you don   t have to run the tap for ages  while waiting for cold water to flow     e Consider composing your food waste instead of using your garbage disposal  unit in your sink  they require lots of water to operate properly     e When using your dishwasher  make sure to use a full load every time  Two half  loads still use more water and energy than one full load     e Become familiar with your dishwasher   s cycle options for lower  temperature duration cycles  Check your user manual or contact the  manufacturer     e Most modern dishwashers are so effective that you don t ever have to pre   rinse     e Use the minimum amount of water required when you boil water in  Saucepans and kettles   you ll save energy as well as water     e For more info visit www energystar gov products or  htto   www allianceforwaterefficiency or    Transition Streets  3 17 OUTDOORS        S Savings  med  CO2 saved  low   Cost  low med      high medium   Outdoor water use accounts for around 60 percent of the total water use   but this number varies drastically across the country  P  Many of us still use  water that has been treated to drinking quality to irrigate thirsty lawns and  gardens  Improving our outdoor water use efficiency is one of the best ways  we can improve our resiliency to times of drought and wat
23. wer and this average is  increasing  Multi head showers are very popular and can easily use more  water than a bath  While invigorating  they can more than double the  water use of your shower  using more than the average person living in the  developing world gets through in a day          Hansgrohe                         Many modern showerheads are designed to reduce the water flow rate but  maintain good pressure  By replacing your showerhead with a more water   efficient model  it is possible to reduce your water consumption by more  than half  while still enjoying a great shower  4 A shower timer shows how  much time you have spent in the shower  and can help you save water     Yes  but       really do need to shower every day  Don   t take fewer showers   reduce  the volume of water used and the time you spend in the shower  You can still have a  great shower experience  save money on water and energy  preserve a valuable  resource  and reduce your carbon emissions     Transition Streets  3 12 SHOWERS  amp  BATHS       Replacing an old showerhead with a low flow showerhead could save an  average household approximately 32 gallons of water every day  and  70  per year off your water and energy bills      In fact  the average family could  same more than 370 kilowatt hours of electricity annually  enough to power  a house for 13 days     e Buy a low flow showerhead  which can limit the water flow to as little as 1 3  gallons a minute   Note  these are not suitable for el
    
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