Many of us use more water than we need. Overuse of water in the home is a common problem, but there are ways in which we can keep tabs on just how much water we use. The key to being green in the home is to collect a number of tips and tricks that will really help in both saving the planet and preserving your bank balance.

Although there are various government schemes to try and reduce our impact on the environment, change begins at home. It may seem like the efforts of one household make little difference, but on a larger scale they can have a profoundly positive effect.

Using too much

Regarding water use, Everyday Health states the facts on how excessive use can be detrimental to your carbon footprint:

“A lot has been said recently about reducing one’s carbon footprint as part of a green lifestyle. But there’s another, equally important eco-friendly move you can make: preserving one of the planet’s most valuable resources — freshwater. Because while 74 percent of the planet’s surface is covered in water, only a scant 3 percent of that is fit to drink. So there’s not a drop to waste!”

After much research, we’ve collected a few handy tips on how you can be green with your water use in the home. These range from simple daily tricks to easy DIY steps, like turning your regular toilet into a low flow one.

• This is a really easy one to remember! Turn off the water while brushing your teeth in the morning and at night. Making this a habit will save you so much in the long term.

• Limit your showers to 2-5 minutes. If you decide to take a bath, and let’s face it we all do every now and again, just be sure to plug the bath before you start running the water and then adjust the temperature accordingly.
• Keep a jug of water in the fridge, especially if it’s a water filter jug. This will drastically help in preventing too much water waste, as you have a specific amount there waiting for you.
• If you don’t have a water-friendly garden already, create one. You can conserve water whilst still keeping your garden looking great. One good way to start is to adjust your watering schedule to coincide with seasonal weather conditions.
• Use good old fashioned brushes and brooms to scrub down the garden furniture and pathways, instead of the water from a hose.
• A bit of DIY can go a very long way! Using these simple DIY steps from The Spruce, you can easily turn your regular toilet into a low flow toilet in just a few steps.