As I look at my water bills this summer I cringe. My green lawn looks beautiful, but the sprinkler system is killing my budget. What can I do to save water? Here are a couple water saving facts that may surprise you.
Which is more green, Washing the dishes by hand or using the dishwasher? Dishwasher wins! Why?
The bottom line is that is uses less energy (hot water), only a sixth of the water (wow!), and much less soap per dish.
Now don’t blow the statistics out of the water. Let’s talk about rinsing. This is a hot topic at my house. Hubby believes in rinsing the dishes well before placing them in the dishwasher. That is a waste to me and extra water used. When you do rinse off the crud, don’t leave the water continuously running. Shut it off when placing the dish down and turn it on again once the next item is in your hand.
Also be sure to load your dishwasher so that it is full. Don’t waste that space!
When you go out to buy a new dishwasher be sure to find one that is Energy Star. Remember less energy = saving money.
Which is greener, Washing the car at home or taking it to a car wash? Car wash! Why?
Washing at home with a garden hose can use more than 60 gallons in as little as five minutes, but most professional car washes treat and recycle water, virtually eliminating waste. The average homeowner uses 116 gallons of water to wash a car, according to the Mid-America Regional Council, and most commercial car washes use 60 percent less water for the entire process than a homeowner uses just to rinse the car.
Plus, a study by the City of Federal Way, found that residential car washing led to numerous pollutants being released each year into their storm sewer system, including 190 gallons of gasoline, diesel and motor oil; 400 pounds of phosphorus and nitrogen; and 60 pounds of ammonia. Gross!
Tip if you still want to wash your car at home: Use a bucket and keep that hose from running!
WERE YOU SURPRISED BY THESE FACTS?
This guest post is written by Courtney, a crunchy mama of 3 boys, who is passionate about healthy living and keeping her home green. Check out her blog at CrunchyBeachMama.com