Co-Owner · December 29, 2022
With 2023 just around the corner, you might be thinking about New Year's resolutions. For some folks it's getting fit. For others it's learning something new. For some, it's spending less and saving more. If you're in that last group, read on.
One of the most overlooked ways to save cash is reducing water usage. If you're wondering, “Does that mean I should shower less in 2023? Or take super quick showers?” No, no, no, that's not what we're saying! There are better ways. Better smelling ways. One of the easiest is putting in low-flow fixtures.
Here's how.
Low-flow Shower Heads
According to the EPA, a standard showerhead sprays 2.5 gallons of water a minute. The average shower is 8 minutes, so that's about 20 gallons a shower. For the average household, that adds up to about 14,600 gallons a year just on showers.
The EPA recommends WaterSense-labeled showerheads, which spray 2 gallons a minute. Do the math and that cuts your water use from 14,600 gallons a year to 11,680. That's 2,920 gallons saved a year! And if you're worried these showerheads won't feel as good, they were made to work just as well as standard fixtures, or better.
Another benefit of low-flow showerheads is they decrease your energy bill. Since you’re using less water, your water heater works less, which means it uses less electricity.
Low-flow faucets and aerators
To reduce water usage in your sinks, you have a couple of options: low-flow faucets or aerators. Installing a low-flow faucet means completely replacing your standard faucet with a WaterSense-labeled one. Comparatively, installing an aerator means adding a small mesh screen (that costs a few dollars) to your existing faucet to reduce water flow.
The EPA states that a standard faucet runs 2.2 gallons a minute, but a WaterSense faucet cuts that to 1.5 gallons a minute (30% less). They figure the average household could save 700 gallons of water a year by switching.
Like low-flow showerheads, low-flow faucets and aerators don’t require sacrificing effectiveness or water pressure. They also lessen the load on your water heater, resulting in a lower energy bill.
There are plenty of other fixtures and appliances you can put in, like dual-flush toilets, irrigation controls, and sprinklers. We started with showerheads and faucets because they're two of the cheapest and easiest to put in. We hope these tips help you hit your New Year's goal of saving money.