The Environment in Peril
Can We Make a Difference?
In the Bathroom and Laundry
The Bathroom
► Use a water flow reducing attachment in your sink faucets and low–flow showerheads to reduce water use and wastage. You can use less hot water by installing a low flow showerhead (350 pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year)
► Look for EcoLogo™ certified plumbing products when you shop.
► Turn off the tap. When washing or shaving, partially fill the sink basin and use that water rather than running the tap continuously. This reduces water use by about 60 percent. Use short bursts of water to clean razors.
► When brushing your teeth, turn off the water while you are actually brushing, instead of running it continuously. Use water from a mug for rinsing. (This reduces water use by about 80 percent.)
► Check regularly for toilet tank leaks into the toilet bowl by putting a small amount of food coloring into the tank and observing if it spreads to the bowl without flushing. Repair leaks promptly. Also periodically examine whether the plunge ball and flapper valve in the tank are properly “seated” and replace parts when necessary.
► Never flush garbage of any kind down your toilet. Cigarette butts, paper diapers, dental floss, plastic tampon holders, condoms and the like can create problems at sewage treatment plants or with your septic tank.
► Short showers use less water than baths. If you still prefer bathing, avoid overfilling the tub one
half full should be enough. By reducing your time in the shower from seven minutes to four, you could save over 25,000 liters / 6500 gallons a year.
► A water efficient shower rose, which can cost as little as $20 at your local hardware store, you can reduce water use by another 20 per cent.
The Laundry
► Fill it up! Wash full loads of laundry. If your washer has an adjustable water–level indicator, set the dial to use only as much water as you need.
► Use the shortest cycle possible for washing your clothes. Use warm water rather than hot, and use the “suds–saver” feature if your machine has it.
► Hang your clothes to dry. You can save 700 pounds of carbon dioxide when you air dry your clothes for 6 months out of the year.
► Use less hot water. It takes a lot of energy to heat water and washing your clothes in cold or warm water (500 pounds of carbon dioxide saved per year) instead of hot.
► Pure soap flakes are a far less damaging laundry detergent than many commercial products.
► Many washing detergents contain sodium (a type of salt) which is harmful to the environment. Too much sodium in waste water from your home results in: less recycled water available for irrigation, greater reliance on limited reserves of drinking water, increased need for energy intensive processing at treatment plants.
► Don’t over-dry your clothes. That will save 15 percent.