Conserving Water, Indoors and Out
Many people think that "Going Green" is just a phase, but lets face reality people, it's here to stay! I for one am very excited that it's finally caught on. If you read my bio, you can obviously tell that I'm a huge environmentalist and I love the outdoors. Ok, enough about me... I'm here to bring you some spring and summer tips that can help you save not only the environment, but a little cash and frustration too.
How can I save on my water bill?
There are many ways to save water in and around your home. Some require oodles of money, while others don't. If you have some spare cash, I would recommend investing in some of the latest water-saving technology. Interested? Check out some of the following links for more information about:
- Low-flow - There are many different types of low-flow technology for the indoors and outdoors. From faucets, to your shower, start saving while your freshening up!
- Advanced Lawn Irrigation Systems - This has got to be one of the best inventions if your in the market to conserve water. The latest in outdoor irrigation can automatically water your lawn, check the weather to see if its going to rain (and if it is, it won't come on), there are even some that check the moisture in your soil to see if there is enough H2O!
Conserve Water Through Your Lawn
There's really no denying it; your lawn needs a lot of water to stay healthy. But did you know that you lawn can conserve water if your trimmed correctly? Not only that, but it will stay healthier! When your about to mow your lawn, check the height of your lawn mower blades and make sure you raiser the blades to where your only cutting roughly 1/3 of the grass off. This will reduce water loss, lower the soils temperature and promote deep rooting. Once deep roots are established, you won't have to water as frequently!
Conserve Water Through Your Toilet... Wait, What???
Yes, it's true. You can save about a half a gallon of water every time you flush your toilet. This tip was brought to my attention by watching the Discovery Channel's new TV network, Planet Green. Simply take an empty plastic water bottle, fill it with sand, slowly place it in your toilets water tank, and voila! It fills in a space were water can be used, and prevents it from filling in that space with water. It also saves about a half a gallon of water when flushing which ends up being a great way to conserve water if you have a large family.
Another way to conserve water with your toilet is to check for leaks. An easy way of doing this is to pour dark food coloring drops in the water reservoir. Come back after 20-30 minutes and open your toilets lid. If you see that color in the water or it leaking down the sides of the toilet, you've got a leak my friend!
Simple Tips To Conserve Water
- When brushing your teeth, don't let the water keep running. Simply turn it off until your ready to rinse.
- Buy low-flow appliances that consume or use less water.
- Don't take long showers... you just start to prune anyway!
- Buy native plants for your garden. They are typically drought-tolerant and know how to conserve their own water.
You can learn more about conservation by visiting Conservation International as well as the Florida Department of Environmental Protection - Conservation.
