Improve Energy Efficiency: How to Conserve Water and Save Energy at Home

If you want to reduce your energy bill, enhance the comfort of your home, and do your part to save the environment from excessive energy or water waste, then it’s time to add some high-efficiency upgrades to your home. Environmentally friendly upgrades range from small, do-it-yourself projects to more time-consuming projects that should be reserved for professionals.

Keep reading below to determine which water- and energy-efficient upgrades would be beneficial to your home.

Water-Saving Products & Appliances

Upgrade your showerheads

Change out your current showerhead for a low-flow style that has a flow rate of less than 2.5 gallons per minute (gpm). Homeowners can choose from two types—either an aerating or laminar-flow showerhead. An aerating showerhead combines air and water to create a misty spray, and a laminar-flow showerhead produces individual streams of water.

You may notice that some low-flow showerheads have a WaterSense label. WaterSense is an EPA partnership program that focuses on ways to decrease water usage and preserve the Earth’s water supply. In order to earn a WaterSense label, a low-flow showerhead must have a flow rate of less than 2.0 gpm.

To test your current showerhead’s efficiency, place a bucket with clearly marked gallon increments underneath the showerhead. Turn the water on at the same pressure you would use if you were taking a shower, and time how long it takes for the water to reach the one-gallon mark. Homeowners who clock times of 20 seconds or less should consider replacing their showerhead with a low-flow style.

Upgrade your toilets

While older toilets can use up to six gallons per flush, WaterSense-labeled toilets use an average of 1.28 gallons or less per flush without sacrificing performance. The claim behind WaterSense toilets is that they can reduce water use by 20 to 60 percent and possibly save more than $110 per year in water costs.

Upgrade your faucets

Another great way to conserve water is to replace the aerator, or the screw-on tip, of your faucets. To increase water efficiency, replace your aerators with a low-flow aerator that has a flow rate of less than 1.0 gpm.

Upgrade your dishwasher

Homeowners have a choice between two different water- and energy-efficient dishwashers—compact or standard capacity. As the name suggests, the compact capacity dishwasher holds fewer dishes than a standard capacity machine.

The dishwasher you decide to buy will depend on your family’s needs. If you wash dishes often, then a standard capacity dishwasher may be best for you. A smaller family that washes fewer dishes may benefit from having a compact capacity dishwasher.

Whichever choice you make, make sure to look for the ENERGY STAR label to ensure that you purchase one of the most water- and energy-efficient dishwashers on the market.

For added efficiency, look for a dishwasher with a booster heater, which helps reduce hot water usage. Some dishwashers include an option that allows you to shorten the wash cycles, which in turn reduces the amount of water used to clean the load of dishes. Also, remember to run only a completely full dishwasher in order to maximize energy usage.

Upgrade your washing machine

To optimize the efficiency of your washing machine, look for appliances with an ENERGY STAR label. Typically, ENERGY STAR washing machines use 20 percent less energy and 35 percent less water than traditional ones.

Upgrade your sprinkler system

WaterSense irrigation controllers allow homeowners to conserve water without sacrificing their green lawn. A WaterSense-approved irrigation controller takes into account the local weather and landscape conditions to determine whether your lawn needs watering.

Traditionally, sprinkler systems run a preset schedule that doesn’t take into account current conditions, which could lead to unnecessary watering. If you’re interested in adding a WaterSense irrigation controller to your sprinkler system, consult a professional to find out which brand will work for you.

Save Energy at Home

Energy-efficient lighting

Roughly ten percent of your energy bill is attributed to lighting. Changing out bulbs that are less efficient for ones that are more efficient, such as compact fluorescents (CFLs) or light-emitting diodes (LEDs), will aid in reducing your energy bill and conserving energy.

Programmable thermostats

Experts recommend that homeowners set their thermostat to 68 degrees Fahrenheit in the winter and 78 degrees Fahrenheit in the summertime. However, when you are away from home, you can adjust this temperature by 10 to 15 degrees to save up to 15 percent on your heating and cooling bill.

While this can be done with a manual thermostat, a programmable thermostat gives you the luxury of enjoying comfortable temperatures without waiting for the house to cool down or warm up.

Cool roofs

Homeowners who live in areas where the summers are hot and the winters are mild may want to consider adding a cool roof to their home. A reflective material—paint, tile, or shingles—is applied to the roof to help reflect sunlight and reduce heat absorption.

In the summer, traditional roofs can reach up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit, while a cool roof could keep temperatures 50 degrees cooler. Having a cooler roof can decrease dependency on air conditioning and possibly extend the life of your roof.

Adequate insulation

A well-insulated home can greatly improve the comfort of its occupants. Poor insulation is usually the biggest culprit of heat loss, which means that your energy bill could skyrocket as your heating system compensates for the heat that is escaping your house. To keep large heating bills at bay, consult a professional about how you can best insulate your home.

Do a little research beforehand, though, by checking out our article on the best types and placement of insulation.

Energy-efficient windows

If you live in an older home and the original windows are still in place, it may be time to replace them with more energy-efficient models. Over time, the frame or glass can become compromised and allow in unwanted air, resulting in higher heating and cooling bills.

ENERGY STAR-qualified HVAC systems

If your HVAC professional recommends that you replace your system, make sure that your new unit is ENERGY STAR qualified. Experts also recommend replacing systems that are ten years old as well as systems that are noticeably inefficient at heating or cooling your home. An ENERGY STAR-qualified HVAC system could cut your heating and cooling costs by almost $200 annually.

In Conclusion

There are many ways to incorporate water-conserving and energy-efficient products and practices into your home. Use these tips as a starting guide to creating a more efficient home and lifestyle. Hopefully, you will enjoy the increased comfort of your home, the yearly savings you receive, and the knowledge that you are contributing to the health of the environment.