Conserve in the bathroom

In America we use twice as much energy and water per person daily as anyone in the rest of the world.  Here are some ways we can all cut down on energy and water usage and save money too.

Turn off the tap while you brush your teeth or wash your hands.  Doing this will save 5 or more gallons of water each day.

When giving the kids a bath, put the plug in the tub when you turn on the water instead of waiting for it to get warm.  Just let the water run and once it gets hot, it will warm up the cold water.  Since the average bathtub faucet flows between 3 and 5 gallons per minute, the water savings can add up fast. (If you really want to save water, put a collection container in your shower to collect the water while it warms up, then water your yard or house plants.)

Make sure your light bulbs are energy efficient, they use only a third as much electricity.

Install water saving shower heads.

Try to flush the toilet less.  If you save just one flush a day, you'll save approximately 4.5 gallons of water (the amount of water the average person in Africa uses in a day).  Think about it the next time you blow your nose and put the tissue in the toilet.

By using these simple techniques, you'll also see the savings in your water and electric bills.