This page contains a Flash digital edition of a book.
ecotip


Ablution Solution Water-Saving Bathroom Tips


There’s a regular waterworks in modern bathrooms—sinks, commode, tub, shower— maybe even a bidet. All are necessary sanita- tion fixtures, but need to be used properly to avoid wasting precious water and processing extra waste. The U.S. Environmental Protec- tion Agency (EPA) confirms that bathroom activities account for more than half of indoor water use.


n First, find and fix any possible plumbing leaks from pipes, faucets, flappers, valves and drains that can run up the water bill, even when no one is home. Then consider replacing aerators on faucets to reduce water flow, but not pressure, for a tiny cost with big returns. An EPA WaterSense label indicates a wise choice.


n Toilets use 30 percent of bathroom water, so make sure household utility bills aren’t paying the high cost of an old- fashioned (1990s or older) 3.5- to 7-gallons-per-flush type; modern fixtures use about a gallon-and-a-half. Dual-flush toilets (for number one and number two) save even more. Universal conversion kits are affordably priced.


n Chuck the commode altogether and switch to a composting toilet. It may seem radical and expensive, but will also use less water and even process the waste onsite (more details at tinyurl. com/37swkz).


n A low-flow showerhead makes a big differ- ence. Start with a test: Fill up a gallon bucket at full pressure; if it takes more than 20 seconds, it’s a low-flow device. Because nobody wants to walk into a cold shower, most people tend to wastefully let the water run a bit first. For- tunately, gadgets such as Showerstart are available that cut any water flow to a trickle as soon as it gets hot, which saves water and also signals that the water has warmed up.


n The EPA estimates that a shower uses 10 to 25 gallons, compared to 70 gallons for a bath, so save the more water- intensive rub-a-dub-dub for a special occasion—perhaps with some bath salts, candles and music.


n Alter personal habits to shower more quickly and turn off the tap between wetting and rinsing; the same goes for hand washing, tooth brushing and shaving.


Visit Water Sense online at tinyurl.com/y9b9j5b.


natural awakenings October 2011


21


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44  |  Page 45  |  Page 46  |  Page 47  |  Page 48  |  Page 49  |  Page 50  |  Page 51  |  Page 52  |  Page 53  |  Page 54  |  Page 55  |  Page 56  |  Page 57  |  Page 58  |  Page 59  |  Page 60  |  Page 61  |  Page 62  |  Page 63  |  Page 64