Water and electricity are the two most needed yet the most misused items in your household. You must have been lazy enough not to do something about that leaky faucet. And so it keeps dripping and wasting water, drop by drop. Or maybe the tank has been leaking for days long and you have simply not bothered to get it fixed.
We know that three quarters of our earth is water but alas! Nor a drop is there to drink because it is mostly saline water that needs a terribly expensive instruments to turn it into something drinkable. Most of the water that is supplied to household is from underground or groundwater as we call it. And this reserve is, although renewable but a slow one.
Then there is electricity. As of now, most of the electricity is generated by burning fossil fuels like coal. The thermal power plants extract millions of tons of coal each year to provide us with the electricity that we misuse so irresponsibly. Although alternative power sources have advanced appreciably, they are yet to serve in bulk. Wasting electricity has it effects in the manner of ‘what goes around comes around’. And waste of electricity has got something to do with the recent rise in the curves of global warming.
You know people like you have wasted enough when the news reads that the thermal plant is running short of some thousands of megawatts power and as a result of which there will be a full day power cut scenario.
A little bit of thought on this matter could save you gallons of water and power. It takes only a bit of effort to step forward and change your habits. Here’s what you can do-
Here’s how to saving water
There is really no need to keep the tap open while you brush your teeth. Turn it off and it can help save up to 6 liters of water per minute.
Place a cistern displacement device in your toilet cistern to reduce the volume of water used in each flush. You can get one of these from your water provider.
Replace that monster shower head with a water-saving one. Again 6-45 liters of water per minute can be saved from getting wasted. Invest in water-efficient goods when you need to replace household products. You can now buy water-efficient showerheads, taps, toilets, washing machines, dishwashers and many other water-saving products.
Always use full loads in your washing machine and dishwasher and cut out unnecessary washes in between. Washing machines, if handled wisely helps save a huge amount of water.
Get that leaky tap fixed as soon as notice it. Do not leave it on your convenience. Major things build up little by little. About 15 liters of water a day or 5,500 liter of water a year would go down the drain.
Installing a water butt to your drainpipe is a good idea as the water collected could be used to water the plants and do cleaning of your cars and windows.
Water your garden with a watering can rather than a hosepipe. A hosepipe uses 1,000 liters of water an hour.
For places where water is taxed installing a water meter will halve your worries as it will monitor and help you understand how much water is being consumed. It will help you identify if there is water being wasted.
Here’s how to save electricity
There is nothing more heroic for an average human being than being able to save on energy. It is simple. Save on energy; pay fewer amounts in bills and save more money. Some tips to help save on electricity are as follows-
Keep the lights out during the day. Let the sun rays help you light up your rooms instead. Unless you need to focus on something really sharp, do not use bright bulbs.
Stick to light colored curtains and blinds for your windows of your bedrooms. This will help keep both privacy and the room lighted. Ask your family to be in the room which is the brightest at sunlight. Then you can save a lot on your electricity bill.
Once it is evening, you need to light up the entire house. The rooms where you are not in can stay dark; no harm doing that. Being together with your family actually helps in the bonding.
If you have lights around your house for security purposes, consider getting automatic security lights with motion detectors instead of using lights that stay on constantly.
Decorative lights that complement your garden or pathway can be replaced with solar-powered lights that charge during the day and cast a soft, pleasant glow at night.
If you use lights to decorate during the holidays, flip them off before going to bed, rather than leaving them on all night long. Outdoor porch lights need not be kept going on all night.
With the energy saving bulbs in the market, the CFLs people are now being to save a lot of electricity. Use these in rooms where you need to keep the lights on for a considerable amount of time like your study table lamp and the like.
Switch off and UNPLUG the appliances once you are done using it. Check the efficiency of the same by looking at the energy ratings labeled on them. And do not buy every product you see being advertised on television. They may look good on TV but maybe of practically little use.
Mainly air conditioners are one of the most left open items in summers. This should not be done because this appliance draws in the maximum power. If you need your room to be cool switch on the AC only when you are inside it.
During winter, do not keep the heating system on all the while. Alternatives like socks, woolen clothes will do right.
With that, it’s over to you
One should try and save water and electricity at home, office and anywhere else where you see it being wasted. After all, it’s not hard to switch off the fan or light when not in use or when you are going out. Educate your child and most importantly set examples by following these rules yourself. When you do so, your kids will learn it.
What else do you think one can do to save water and electricity?
