Water Conservation and Saving Energy $$ at the Same Time!

Water and PV Solar

Water conservation is set to be as important as saving energy in terms of our financial investment into our current lifestyle. Homes are being prepared to have water rates spike as early as next year and homes that have never seen a water meter will be getting one of these meters in the near future. If customers are in the country and have their own well, the less it runs the less they pay. If they decide to go solar, and convert to a time of use rate, they can usually same money by watering at night at only 8 cents a KWH, and run pool pumps and auto fills at the same time. If like most people, they shower prior to one pm, they can see a reduced rate of 11 cents per KWH.

1. An Energy Star clothes washer uses 15 to 18 gallons of water per load compared to 40 gallons with a regular washer.

2. Avoid using appliances that consume a lot of water like dishwashers and clothes washers during peak hours of consumer use between 5 p.m. and 9 p.m.

3. Use dishwashers and clothes washers when you have full loads only.

4. Replace toilets with low-water-use models.

5. Use less water by showering rather than bathing, and install a water-saving shower head.
6. Don’t allow water to run consistently when brushing teeth. This wastes up to 20 gallons a day with a family of 4 who brush their teeth to dental guidelines.
7. Save water by installing an Instant Hot Water Recirculation System. This is a pump and valve combination that delivers hot water in an instant to any faucet or bath in your home. It uses the pump at the water heater along with the patented under-sink sensor valve installed furthest away from the water heater. This combination creates a pressure differential that allows the cold and cool water in the hot water supply line to "bypass" (at a low volume) into the cold water supply line through the thermostatically controlled sensor valve, keeping the water in the hot water supply line at a "no-wait" temperature throughout the home. The timer on the pump makes it more efficient during downtime.
How Much Water is Wasted Waiting for It to Get Hot?

Example:
An average home has approximately 125 ft of 3/4 inch piping.
125 feet of 3/4" pipe holds 3.14 gallons of water.
10 draws per day wastes over 31 gallons of water waiting for the water to get hot.
Over a year, the wasted water equals 11,461 gallons and uses less than a 25 watt light bulb!