What do you do after you have changed out the light bulbs that will not cost you an arm and a leg? Actually there are a number of products that I will cover in this article that don't cost much but can save you a lot of money.
Whether you believe in global warming or not, conserving water and energy makes sense on many levels. I have been in the conservation business since 1992 and have always understood that as much as we want to do what is right for the planet, unless I could prove the economic value of a product not many people would buy it.
Here are some options you might not have considered yet (and if you have, why haven't you implemented them?) Some ideas have not been traditionally thought of as energy conservation strategies but at closer look they are. Other ideas have been around for awhile but recent advancements might mean it's time for an upgrade.
For the purposes of this article I am going to focus on products that reduce water consumption – specifically hot water consumption. Studies show that 30% to 40% of water consumed in a residential environment is hot water. Conserve water – conserve energy.
I am going to assume that you have already installed low-flow aerators and showerheads, low-flush toilets and replaced your energy wasting light bulbs. If you haven't, bookmark this page and go do it.
Idea #1
Check your water pressure: Higher water pressure means that more water is being forced through the low-flow faucets and aerators you installed. Since they are already restricting water flow, reduce the pressure in 5 psi increments until the service level is no longer satisfactory. It is difficult to say what pressure is the right pressure – it changes from building to building. If you have a pressure regulator already installed there is no cost to implementing this strategy – experiment with it.
Idea #2
Drip Stop Faucet Washers: 90% of leaks occur in hot water pipes – some are easy to spot, others are hard to find. If you follow these steps you can pinpoint any problems and then take action to stop the bleeding. First, check all of your faucets. If they are leaking – fix them! The best replacement washers are made by Drip Stop. Google them, go to their website (turn off the annoying dripping sound) and buy them. Their patented design uses your faucet's own internal water pressure to create a watertight seal which actually makes your faucets easier to turn off as well.
Next turn off all of the fixtures and go look at the meter. Most utilities are now using meters with a spinner on the face that indicates even the smallest amount of water passing through the meter. Again if you have a leak –fix it!
Idea #3
Lower-Flow Showerheads: That's right, lower flow showerheads. When low flow showerheads first came out they were just watered down (pardon the pun) versions of the old guzzlers with flow restrictors. Nobody liked the way they felt but over the years advances were made and there are a number of low-flow showerheads that conserve water and provide a quality showering experience.
But showerheads have evolved and now there are an even better showerheads available and here are 4 reasons why:
1. One new showerhead is rated at 1.59 gpm versus the old 2.5 gpm showerheads. This can save an average family of 3 about $155 per year – at around $40 your payback is under 4 months!
2. When we are pre-warming the water before we get in the shower most of us turn the water on and let it run while we do other things. 1 or 2 minutes later we return to a shower filled with steam, adjust the water temperature and step in.
One manufacturer has patented a showerhead that actually turns off the water once it reaches 95°F. You can go about your business until you are ready, pull on a chain and take your shower. This increases the savings by another $75 per year, for a total of $230 saved per year. That's a 2 month payback at $40 per shower head!!
3. The demise of most showerheads is clogging from water deposits. Many new showerheads have anti-clog spray nozzles that are cleaned by dragging you finger across the nozzle tips while the water is running.
4. Water pressure can drastically change the amount of water flowing through your showerhead (see Idea #1 above). Some new showerheads use pressure compensating technology that helps maintain a consistent flow rate across the spectrum of water pressure from high to low. And they feel great, even with lower water pressures.
The best of the new showerheads that I have found are called the Evolve Showerhead and are available at The Energy Conservation Store online.
There are other options but I have run out of time. If you have any questions please send me an email at the link below.
