6 Conservation Ideas – Water Heating Costs

by: Ibrahim Saeed

These 6 home energy saving tips and conservation ideas can significantly reduce the strain on your water heater and the strain on your household budget. Water heating is often an over looked energy cost by many homeowners.

It’s true that water conservation in it’s self is important, but considering the dual cost of hot water (your water bill and either your natural gas or electricity bill), reducing your homes hot water use will significantly improve efficiency and savings.

In fact water heating alone is the third largest household source of energy. Machine washing clothes, showering and automatic dishwashing are the household activities responsible for 80% of total indoor hot water use in the average American home.

6 Home Energy Saving Tips To Reduce Water Heating Costs

1: Check the washing recommendations for you and your family member’s most often worn clothing. When possible, wash most clothing in cold water. Many detergents today allow for the use of cold water with almost any fabrics. Look for detergents labeled with terms like “cold temperature detergent”.

2: Also consider pre soaking clothes (in the washing machine) before even starting the cycle, this cleans and removes stains better and allows for shorter cycles. Use the economy cycle as much as possible (especially for smaller loads and for more delicate fabrics), the economy cycle uses less hot water and less electricity.

3: When ever your stress level permits, take showers instead of baths. Filling up a bath tub can use up to twice as much hot and warm water as a 10 minute shower.

4: Unscrew your bathroom shower heads and inspect them for flow rates. If the flow rates (measured in gallons per minute or GPM) are not visible, you can measure flow rates by using a large size bucket and a stop watch. If the flow rates are 3 GPM or higher then replace them with newer water saving shower heads that have rates of 2.5 GPM or lower.

5: If purchasing low flow shower heads, consider models that have shut off valves. These switches allow you to halt the hot water while shampooing, conditioning and lathering. And when you’re done you simply pull or turn the valve again and rinse with the same exact water temperature.

6: Use your dishwasher wisely and somewhat sparingly. Instead consider soaking dirty dishes, pots and pans in the sink, even if it means you will get to rinsing them later. And when using your dishwasher is a must, wash only full loads and pre soak pots and pans and use a shorter washing cycle.

About The Author

It’s true that for some saving energy at home is fueled by environmental concerns, but the savings from conserving is what interests us all. Visit http://www.lower-my-energybill.com/energy-saving-tips.html for other energy saving tips and conservation ideas that are sure to lower their utility bills for years to come.

Ibrahim Saeed,
http://www.lower-my-energybill.com

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