10 simple ways to save water (and energy too)
Water brings life, health and vitality to every aspect of our day-to-day lives, so treat this precious but taken-for-granted resource with respect and make the most of every drop
Summer is coming and it promises to be one of the hottest on record. As the temperature rises, so does our need for water. Yet blazing hot summers inevitably bring water scarcity, hosepipe bans and worries about whether there will be enough to go around.
Even when there is a plentiful supply of water, lots of energy is required to collect it, purify it and transport it to your taps. So if you save water, you are also saving energy and helping to reduce the carbon emissions that are driving up temperatures in the first place.
Here are 10 top tips for cutting your water use at home without sacrificing your quality of life:
1. Think toothbrush, think shower
You know that leaving the tap running while brushing your teeth is wasteful. But you can save much more water by treating your shower in the same way. Sometimes it's great to stand there and let the water pour over you but, if your morning shower is just a quick way of getting clean before the day gets going, you don't need to leave the water running the whole time.
Get in, get wet, then turn the tap off and lather up. Then turn on again for a final rinse. It's amazing how much water, hot water too, you can save doing this. If you are fitting a new shower, make sure the controls are very responsive to make this technique easier. Whatever you do, avoid power showers as these use more water than a bath.
2. Fine tune your flush
The simplest way to reduce the water you use when flushing is to fill a plastic water bottle and stick it on your toilet cistern. Make sure the bottle is not too big or you will end up flushing twice. Alternatively, fit an 'Interflush', a device that lets you control how much water you flush by stopping the flush as soon as you let go of the handle (see www.interflush.co.uk).
3. Boil with care
Kettles use more energy than any other household appliance, so the more care you take to boil only the amount you need, the more water and energy you will save. You don't have to be too meticulous. If you avoid filling the kettle all the way every time you will be making a difference.
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