Green Living
Common Sense About Consumption
Your mother taught you to turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth; here's more to learn about saving water.
BY
Holly Worthy
PHOTOGRAPHY
courtesy of GE

“Like many cities across the country, we want to be environmental stewards. The city needs to set a good example for the people who live in it.”
Click to view Water-Savvy Inventions for the Home

We live in a country where ‘green’ is the new buzzword, and people are taking steps to protect the environment. But amid the surge in hybrid cars and organic food, water conservation often gets overlooked. In fact, a typical Kansas City household consumes more than 7,500 gallons of water each month. Although Earth is made up of two-thirds water, only 1 percent is available for human use, and it’s quickly being depleted. So what are you to do?

For years, you may have been told to take shorter showers, turn off the faucet while brushing your teeth and run only a fully loaded dishwasher or washing machine. But old habits die hard, and you have to remind yourself to invest the effort and brainpower it takes to maintain these practices. Fortunately for you (and the environment), products and programs are being developed to do it for you.

The EPA has spearheaded a new program called WaterSense. Much like an Energy Star label, the WaterSense label can be found on products that are water-efficient. From toilets, which account for 30 percent of residential water use, to outdoor irrigation systems, which waste 1.5 billion gallons daily in the U.S., the program enables you to choose quality and conservation-sound products that require minimal post-purchase effort.

The City of Olathe has partnered with the WaterSense program to promote the use of these products. WaterSense and common sense are taken seriously by the city, which implemented the program in 2007. “Like many cities across the country, we want to be environmental stewards,” says Melissa Bedford Fears, environmental program coordinator for Olathe. “The city needs to set a good example for the people who live in it.” Conservation articles in the city’s monthly newsletter instruct Olathe homeowners how to efficiently use water, inside and out.

But when updating your home with new appliances and systems, money is usually the first thing that comes to mind. Manufacturers are creating ways to get to the root of the issue — literally. Products installed below the surface of your home and in your yard can aid water conservation in fewer steps and lower costs.

Hot water recirculation pumps, generally consisting of a pump near the hot water heater and a valve near the sink, are being developed and are easily retrofitted to existing pipes. Instantly providing hot water, this system bypasses the cold water, sending it back to the heater, not down the drain.

If you’d rather replace than retrofit, tankless water heaters are increasingly taking the place of old, cumbersome tanks. Installing a tankless water heater reduces energy costs 10 to 20 percent by eliminating the need to keep a large quantity of water heated at all times as traditional water heaters do. Instead, water is heated to a preset temperature by propane, electricity or gas that is activated by the flow of water. Chuck Sauro of AB May says using tankless water heaters has many additional benefits. “Tank water heaters have a life expectancy of about eight to 12 years,” he explains. “With tankless, though, you can get upward of 20.” This means that your higher installation costs are offset by a better, long-term investment. Chuck also says maintenance can be done by most homeowners. “Mineral buildup is the most common problem seen with these heaters and can be fixed with a simple vinegar solution,” he says. No larger than a full-size suitcase, tankless water heaters increase floor space and, because they pull in outdoor air instead of indoor air for combustion, they can be placed anywhere in a house.

Your indoor usage isn’t the only place to save water. In the past decade, outdoor residential water use had become 50 to 70 percent of water demand. The Midwest’s summer scorchers — often stretching into the autumn months — force many homeowners to water the lawn, but simple gadgets can help control the amount of water you put into your great outdoors.

The EPA estimates that 120 gallons of a day’s water consumption is used outdoors, but half of that is wasted via evaporation, run-off or over-watering. Zoned irrigation controllers, a supplement to any system, can be programmed to water different areas of your yard, such as trees, flower beds and turf. Sensors also can help alleviate the problem of water waste. Evapotranspiration sensors gauge solar radiation, humidity, temperature and wind to make a combined estimate on the amount of water needed. Lawn humidity sensors can be installed to measure humidity and evaporation. If conditions render watering unnecessary, the sensors automatically shut off the irrigation system to prevent problems that hit you where it hurts: your utility bill.

With each year, installation of these items increases significantly. According to Chuck, this results from increased consumer awareness. “People are more educated in what’s high efficiency and what’s green,” he says. Ultimately, that also results in what’s good for the wallet.