Friday, November 21, 2008

Simple Steps for a Water-Conscious Winter Season

The holidays are an exciting time of year for most households. This winter, the City of Durham encourages residents to “go green” this holiday season by purchasing gifts and implementing a few simple practices at home to conserve Durham’s water supplies and preserve your budget.

Here are some ideas to save money and water while enjoying this time of year:

1. High-efficiency toilets (HET) are water savers that have an impact—easily saving up to 1,200 gallons a month. The City of Durham is currently offering a $100 toilet rebate/credit for HET purchases/installations made on or after January 1, 2008. Visit http://www.durhamsaveswater.org/ to learn how to qualify.

2. Consider purchasing a front-load ENERGY STAR® washer for your family or a loved one. Front-loading washers may cost a bit more than standard models, but they are more water- and energy-efficient. ENERGY STAR qualified washers can help lower your utility bills, save energy, and save water by as much as 30 percent. Plus, the increased capacity means fewer loads of laundry.

3. Take advantage of special discounts and rebates on water-efficient dishwashers offered during the holiday season. A new water-efficient model can save 1,200 gallons of water a year and help reduce utility costs. And, remember to use your clothes washer and dishwasher only when you have a full load and save up to 600 gallons each month.

4. Water-efficient showerheads provide amazing savings and make great stocking stuffers. Replace your older showerhead with a high quality 1.5 gpm model, available at the Cashiering Counter at City Hall for only $3.00. A family of four can save up to 2,000 gallons of water monthly.

5. While preparing holiday meals, defrost frozen items in the refrigerator, not under running water.

6. When washing dishes, keep dishwashing liquid use to a minimum to reduce the amount of rinse water needed. If using a dishwasher, scrape dishes before placing them in the dishwasher instead of pre-rinsing them.

7. Do not run the kitchen faucet continuously while washing dishes. Use one sink for washing and another, or a separate tub, for rinsing.

8. Compost appropriate food scraps from your holiday meals instead of running garbage disposals.

9. Winterize outdoor spigots when temperatures dip below freezing to prevent pipes from leaking or bursting. Also, keep an eye on leaks and make needed repairs indoors and outdoors.

10. Adjust your lawn watering schedule to the winter season. Water your lawn once every five days or only when needed. Bermuda grasses are dormant (brown) in the winter and only require water once every three to four weeks or less if it rains.

So give back to the environment and reward yourself with money savings during this holiday season and all year long.

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DurhamSavesWater.org is a website sponsored by the City of Durham which encourages both residential and non-residential customers to use water efficiently. The program invites residents to learn how to conserve and preserve Durham’s water supplies. Since Durham has implemented a tiered water rate structure for residential customers, the less water you use, the lower your rate, the more money you can save for everyday needs, and the better we protect Durham. For additional information, visit DurhamSavesWater.org. Please check back for updates on the City’s toilet rebate program and for weekly updates on tips to conserve water during the holiday season!