LiveIt! Green
Water Conservation Tips
Be Water Wise Outdoors
- Avoid watering the lawn, and meet current restrictions
- Put leaves and bark mulch around shrubs and trees to hold in moisture
- Water vegetable gardens in the morning, near the roots, and by hand
- Wash cars for safety only, (windscreens, windows and headlights) using a bucket
- Sweep driveways or decks with a broom instead of the hose
Be Water Wise Indoors
- Keep a jug of cool water in the fridge, instead of running the tap 'till it cools
- Turn off the tap when brushing your teeth or washing dishes
- Shorter showers: Reducing your shower by two minutes can save 460 litres of water in one month.
- Run full loads in the washing machine and dishwasher. A family of four washes about 300 loads per year. A full load uses less water – and energy - than two half loads. An average week that family will use 340 litres of water on laundry.
- Water used to wash dishes, vegetables, your hands, or for cooking can be saved to use to water
Energy Conservation Tips
- Turn off unnecessary lights. Two 100-watt incandescent bulbs switched off for an average of two hours per day could save you $12 over a year.
- Use task lighting. Turn off ceiling lights and use table lamps, track lighting and under-counter lights in work and hobby areas as well as in kitchens.
- Adjust your hot water heater. Turning down your water heater thermostat (no lower than 55ºC and no higher than 60ºC) can pay off in savings of up to 5% for every 6ºC.
- Unplug unused electronics. Standby power can account for 10% of an average household's annual electricity use. Unplug unused electronics and save $50 a year.