| What do you do after you have changed out the | | | | meter. Most utilities are now using meters with a |
| light bulbs that will not cost you an arm and a leg? | | | | spinner on the face that indicates even the smallest |
| Actually there are a number of products that I will | | | | amount passing through the meter. Again if you have |
| cover in this article that don't cost much but can | | | | a leak - fix it! |
| save you a lot of money. Whether you believe in | | | | Idea #3 Lower-Flow Showerheads: That is right, |
| global warming or not, conserving energy makes | | | | lower flow. When they first came out they were |
| sense on many levels. I have been in the | | | | just watered down (pardon the pun) versions of the |
| conservation business since 1992 and have always | | | | old guzzlers with flow restrictors. Nobody liked the |
| understood that as much as we want to do what is | | | | way they felt but over the years advances were |
| right for the planet, unless I could prove the | | | | made and there are a number of low-flow |
| economic value of a product not many people would | | | | showerheads that conserve while providing a quality |
| buy it. Here are some options you might not have | | | | showering experience. But they have evolved and |
| considered yet. | | | | now there are an even better ones available and |
| Some ideas have not been traditionally thought of as | | | | here are 4 reasons why: |
| energy conservation strategies but at closer look | | | | 1. One is rated at 1.59 gpm versus the old 2.5 gpm |
| they are. Other ideas have been around for awhile | | | | wasters. This can save an average family of 3 about |
| but recent advancements might mean it's time for an | | | | $155 per year - at around $40 your payback is under |
| upgrade. For the purposes of this article I am going | | | | 4 months! |
| to focus on products that reduce hot water | | | | 2. When we are pre-warming the water before we |
| consumption. Studies show that 30% to 40% of | | | | get in the shower most of us on the faucet and let |
| water consumed in a residential environment is | | | | it run while we do other things. 1 or 2 minutes later |
| heated. I am going to assume that you have already | | | | we return to a shower filled with steam, adjust the |
| installed low-flow showerheads and aerators, | | | | temperature and step in. One manufacturer has |
| low-flush toilets and replaced your energy wasting | | | | patented a technology that actually turns off the |
| light bulbs. If you have not, bookmark this page and | | | | water once it reaches 95°F. You can go about |
| go do it. | | | | your business until you are ready, pull on a chain and |
| Idea #1 Check your building pressure: Higher pressure | | | | take your shower. This increases the savings by |
| means that more water is being forced through the | | | | another $75 per year, for a total of $230 saved per |
| low-flow faucets and aerators you installed. Since | | | | year. That is a 2 month payback at $40 per shower |
| they are already restricting flow, reduce the pressure | | | | head! |
| in 5 psi increments until the service level is no longer | | | | 3. The demise of most showerheads is clogging from |
| satisfactory. It is difficult to say what pressure is the | | | | lime (or other minerals) deposits. Many new models |
| right pressure - it changes from building to building. If | | | | have anti-clog spray nozzles that are cleaned by |
| you have a pressure regulator already installed there | | | | dragging you finger across the nozzle tips while the |
| is no cost to implementing this strategy - experiment | | | | water is running. |
| with it. | | | | 4. Pressure can drastically change the amount of |
| Idea #2 Drip Stop Faucet Washers: 90% of leaks | | | | water flowing through your fixtures (see Idea #1 |
| occur in hot water pipes - some are easy to spot, | | | | above). Some new models use pressure |
| others are hard to find. If you follow these steps | | | | compensating technology that helps maintain a |
| you can pinpoint any problems and then take action | | | | consistent flow rate across the spectrum of building |
| to stop the bleeding. First, check all of your faucets. | | | | pressure from high to low. And they feel great, even |
| If they are leaking - fix them! The best replacement | | | | with lower pressure. The best of the new fixtures |
| washers are made by Drip Stop. Google them, go to | | | | that I have found are called the Evolve Showerhead |
| their website (turn off the annoying dripping sound) | | | | and are available at The Energy Conservation Store |
| and buy them. Their patented design uses your | | | | online. And one of their polished chrome or brushed |
| faucets' own internal pressure to create a tight seal | | | | nickel showerhead (hand held also available) would |
| which actually makes it easier to turn off as well. | | | | look great with any decor. |
| Next turn off all of the fixtures and go look at the | | | | |