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Room by Room: 9 Ways to Save Energy and Water in the Bathroom

(Photo: Flickr)

With serious drought conditions affecting California, saving water has become extremely important. And since 19% of California’s electricity goes to pumping water, when you save water, you save energy too. Here are some easy tips for saving in your bathroom.

1. Repair leaks:
On average, leaks account for 13% of home water usage.

2. Ventilate properly:
When you shower or take a bath, use the bathroom fan to remove the heat and humidity from your home. This will help keep your A/C from working overtime. ENERGY STAR qualified fans are available.

3. Seal around pipes:
Space around plumbing pipes can be a common source of air leakage. Make sure yours are covered and sealed around the edges.

4. Opt for Brief Showers over Baths:
A ten minute shower can use less water than a full bath.

5. Low-Flow Showerheads:
These can save 44% over non-conserving showerheads. Here’s how to test your existing showerhead to see if it’s a water-guzzler:

Place a bucket—marked in gallon increments—under your shower head.
Turn on the shower at the normal water pressure you use.
Time how many seconds it takes to fill the bucket to the 1-gallon (3.8 liter) mark.
If it takes less than 20 seconds to reach the 1-gallon mark, you could benefit from a low-flow showerhead.

Also, remember not to fall victim to the Snackwell effect – don’t take longer showers just because you have a more efficient system.

6. Faucets/Faucet Attachments:
Faucet aerators can also save water, and only cost a few dollars. Try this cost calculator for faucets and low-flow toilets.

7. Turn off the water while you brush your teeth:
This can save up to 3,000 gallons of water per year.

8. Low-flush toilet:
Depending on your current model, switching to an ultra-low-flush toilet could help you save thousands of gallons per year. Also, keep an eye out for dual flush models to help you save even more.

9. WaterSense products:
WaterSense is similar to the government’s ENERGY STAR program, except it covers water instead of energy. Look for the WaterSense label when buying faucets, faucet aerators, and toilets.