Treatment of drinking water and wastewater is energy intensive. EPA estimates ~2 percent of national electricity consumption is used to provide drinking water and wastewater services each year.
Heating water accounts for about 20% of your home’s energy use. Reducing your hot water use can help you reduce your monthly water heating bills.
How to conserve:
Buy and install products with high water efficiency and performance. Look for the WaterSense Label designating products that are 20% more efficient than average. Products include faucets, shower heads, toilets, and more.
Washing dishes by hand is less efficient than running a full dishwasher. Using the shortest wash setting on your dishwasher saves even more energy.
If you have to wash dishes by hand, plug up the sink or use a wash tub. Letting your faucet run for five minutes while washing dishes can waste 10 gallons of water.
If possible, irrigate your landscapes with rainwater or “Grey Water”, the water from sinks, showers, and washing machines.