| With much of the 150 litres of water we each use on a daily basis being wasted, now is the time to think about how to reduce waste and save our most valuable resource.
If you have a dripping (hot) water tap, try to get it fixed as soon as possible. It not only wastes energy, it wastes a lot of water. In just one day, you could waste enough hot water to fill a bath. Also remember to put the plug in your basin or sink - leaving hot water taps running is both wasteful and expensive.
Hot Water Cylinder
By placing a lagging jacket around your hot water tank you could save £10 to £20 per year, thereby paying for itself within a year. It also helps if you insulate the hot water pipes. When deciding on a jacket always go for a British Standard jacket.
The thermostat does not need to be set too high; 60°C/140°F is usually adequate for bathing and washing.
Shower/Bath
You could save on water and energy by installing low-flow showerheads.
Have shower instead of a bath, thereby saving not only water but also time and money. After having a bath in winter, don’t pull the plug on the hot water until it has cooled down (and thus heated your house). It may look dirty, but you've just used a lot of energy to heat up that water. There's no point letting it, and your money, go down the drain.
Toilet
Cut down on the amount of water wasted by having a low-flush toilet. You can also buy a device which are inserted into the cistern. This reduces the volume of water which is stored subsequent to the toilet being flushed.
Another popular phrase, often heard during the recent Gloucestershire floods, goes as follows: “If it’s yellow, let it mellow. If it’s brown, flush it down!”
Sinks/Taps
Install sink aerators to reduce the use of hot water. Also taps with motion sensors will save you a lot of water, as they will only run when you hold your hands underneath them. Besides the huge savings, it is also far more hygienic than ordinary taps.
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