Around 120 to 190 liters of drinking water per capita flow from households into the sewage systems every day. However, it’s not just water consumption that’s a problem, but above all the energy consumption that goes hand in hand with it. With a few simple tricks, you can save a lot of water – and money.
Only four percent of our groundwater reservoirs produce less water than we take from them. In the rest, the level remains the same or even more groundwater is formed than we need.
We shouldn’t waste water, but meticulous water conservation for the sake of the environment isn’t necessary either – with one important exception: hot water. The less water that has to be heated for showers and baths, the less energy is used, This relieves the climate and the household budget.
Hot water is the second-largest energy consumer in the household, accounting for about 12% of total energy consumption. Yet saving energy is easy: We show how you can save water in the household.
1. Shower & Mixing nozzles
Instead of taking a full bath (water consumption: approx. 140 liters), take a shower. Here, the water consumption per minute – depending on the shower head – is about 15 liters. Read also: How often does it make sense to shower? Economical shower heads, aerators and water-saving mixer nozzles, which you simply screw onto the faucet, also save a lot of water. Still, don’t run the faucet while brushing your teeth or shaving.
2. Drink 1 gallon of water per day
Making soda and other drinks costs additional water during the production process. Because of this, drinking water instead of soda is not only better for your health but also for the environment. Especially for fitness, you’ll want to get a 1 gallon water bottle and just go with that instead of other types of drinks.
Saving water in the kitchen
3. efficient appliances
When buying washing machines and dishwashers, pay attention to their water and energy consumption. Modern appliances use less than 10,000 liters (washing machines) and less than 2,000 liters (dishwashers) of water per year. Here you can find the most energy-efficient dishwashers and the most energy-efficient washing machines.
4. Dishwashing
If you have a dishwasher, don’t wash by hand. A fully loaded dishwasher uses less water than thorough washing. And: You don’t need to pre-rinse lightly soiled dishes, the dishwasher will get them clean!
5. Washing fruits and vegetables
Do not clean fruits under running water. It is better to use a bowl in which you wash the fruits and vegetables. You can even use the water for watering flowers afterwards if you want.
Washing with ecological detergent
6. Fill washing machine correctly
Make sure your washing machine is always fully loaded. To do this, you can also form “washing communities” with friends, neighbors or roommates to avoid inefficient washes with only a few clothes.
7. Rags and buckets
Pressure washers use up to 500 liters of fresh drinking water per hour. In your household, resort to traditional cleaning methods and use a bucket and rag. This not only saves water, but sometimes leads to success faster than technical devices. Read also: Ecological cleaning with home remedies – tips & tricks
8. Use rinse water several times
Always clean less dirty surfaces or objects like glasses first. Then you can still use the warm water afterwards for dirty pans or even to mop the floor.
Saving water in the garden
While rigorous conservation of cold water is not necessary – neither is senseless waste. In the garden, you can avoid this by smart energy saving in numerous places:
9. Lawn mowing
Don’t mow your lawn every week. Otherwise it will dry out more quickly and need to be watered artificially more often. Read also: Mowing the lawn: what mistakes you should avoid.
10. Watering
Do without a sprinkler in the garden: a better watering with less water and without rapid evaporation guarantees a drip hose.
Check out this Ted Talk on more ways to conserve water!