Water Saving Shower

by William Lund
Usually conserving water is a painful process. Low flow toilets conserve water, but most people who have used them complain about their operation…needing to flush multiple times etc. How about low flow shower heads and faucets? Again, for most of us it’s not a painless way to conserve water. It’s emotionally painful, at least for me. How about all those brown yards with dead lawns? And not being able to wash your car…that’s painful isn’t it?

Well the good news is there is a way to save a lot of water without the pain and it’s called a hot water demand system! In fact, this way of saving water is actually a convenience for the user. It’s called a hot water demand system (or demand hot water system), and it can save a typical family of 4 up to 16,000 gallons of water per year according to one manufacturer, and 10,000 gallons per year according to another.

A hot water demand system consists of a small pump that mounts under the sink in a bathroom or kitchen. When the user “demands” hot water, by pressing a button, the pump begins pumping water out of the water heater, and when the hot water reaches the pump, the pump shuts off. The cooled-off hot water in the hot water pipes is pumped into the cold water line, and back into the water heater inlet. It just pumps the water in a big loop out of the heater and back in. Since the pump shuts off when hot water reaches the pump, little if any hot water makes it into the cold water line.

Since the pump only runs for a very short time, typically less than a minute, it uses very little electricity. Usually these pumps use less than a dollar or two per year of electricity. With some of the systems the pumps are powerful enough that you get your hot water in half the normal time.

If you have a tankless water heater then you are probably wasting even more water waiting for the hot to arrive, since a tankless water heater takes time to heat the water and a storage tank type heater does not. However, it takes a certain amount of flow to turn on a tankless water heater so you must be sure the pump you purchase has enough power.

There are a number of hot water circulating systems on the market, and not all of them are “demand” systems. Traditional circulating systems require a separate return line for the hot water, and the pumps run continuously. These traditional systems use a tremendous amount of energy keeping the hot water pipes full of hot water. The water heater has to work a lot harder and can wear out much more quickly. Tankless systems won’t work with traditional hot water circulating systems.

There are also a class of circulating systems that are kind of half way between the traditional system and the demand system. They use the cold water line as the return line like real demand systems, but they operate on a temperature cycle like some traditional systems. That is, when the water cools down to a pre-determined temperature the pump turns on, and when the water reaches a pre-determined high temperature the pump shuts off. The pump cycles on and off continuously keeping the water in the pipes kind of luke warm. These systems will not work with tankless water heaters either. The pumps are too small to pump enough water to turn them on.

These temperature controlled cold water return line systems also use a lot of energy since they keep the hot water (and cold water) pipes full of warm water. They aren’t as bad as the full time traditional systems, but they consume one heck of a lot more energy than a true demand system.

When considering purchasing such a system be sure to check with your local water company and or city government to see if any rebates are being offered. There are water companies that offer rebates, and some rebate as much as $200.00 per home. That’s actually more than the retail price for at least one brand of demand system.

William Lund is an inventor of 35 years and has over a dozen patents. Learn more about hot water demand systems, and tankless water heaters at:Hot Water Demand Systems and More

Mr. Lund invites you to visit his blog: Pondering Everything

Article Source: ArticleRich.com

By Laura Petros

Our planet’s most precious resource is water. Over 70 per cent of our earth’s surface is covered in water with 97.5 per cent of that being salt water. Less than 3 per cent of the earth’s water is defined as fresh water and only 3/1000 of this is either too deep in the earth to retrieve or locked away in ice caps or glaciers. With global warming and climate changes threatening our current water supplies, the amount of available fresh water may soon dwindle.

Water is life to every living organism. All living organisms are made of water: humans are 60 per cent; fish are about 80 per cent; and plants are between 80 and 90 per cent water. Water is necessary for chemical reactions to occur at the cellular level and water is the medium where the exchange of information between cells happens for life to continue. All living things depend on the hydrological cycle to continue as water is essential for all food production and all living ecosystems.

In North America, fresh clean water is readily available however our consumption patterns and wasteful ways threaten our future supplies. A typical single family home uses about 265 liters of water every day (indoors) and about 35 per cent of that is used to maintain our lawns and gardens. According to the World Health Organization, humans only need 19 liters of water a day to meet basic needs.

Without actively thinking about water conservation, we all waste water: 114 liters goes down the drain if you wash dishes with the tap running; 180 liters of water is wasted per day on a leaky faucet; 280 liters of water is wasted by a steady slow-dripping tap; an average of 19 liters of water is wasted if you leave the tap running while you brush your teeth. By taking a few common-sense steps in our everyday life, we can save thousands of liters of water each year.

The best place to start our water conservation is by reviewing how we use water inside our homes and identifying where we are most wasteful. The kitchen is one of the most obvious rooms in our homes where water is in constant use and where conserving water would make a big impact. Considering all that goes on in a kitchen – cooking, cleaning and washing – taking a few deliberate steps to use less water will save thousands of liters each year. Here are some tips to consider:

(1) When it comes to drinking water from the kitchen tap, most of us let the water run a bit to clear the tap of stale water or we run water first so that we get a good cold drink but, either way, we are wasting water. A good drinking water option is to fill a jug full of water and put it in the refrigerator. If you only drink half a glass of water, do not dump the remainder down the sink – use it to water your house plants;

(2) When washing fruits and vegetables, wash them in a sink-full of water instead of running water over them. You only need enough water to slightly cover the fruits and vegetables to scrub them clean;

(3) If you wash your dishes by hand and have a double sink, fill the second sink with rinse water instead of rinsing dishes under a running tap. If you don’t have a double sink, put the washed dishes onto a drain rack and rinse them with a hand-held spray. By washing dishes this way, you’ll save gallons of water each month;

(4) If have a dishwasher, use it only when you have a full load of dishes. The dishwasher uses the same amount of water whether it is full or not. Some dish-washers have shorter cycles that do the job of cleaning and drying your dishes just as well as the longer cycles. Shorter cycles also use less water;

(5) Make sure there are no dripping taps or leaky pipes as these situations waste gallons of water. Fix all leaks and seal all pipes to insure water is not being wasted and further erosion is not happening.

The bathrooms in your home are also a place where there are lots of water consumption and lots of waste. By taking a few conscious steps you can save gallons of water from going down the drain needlessly;

(1) When brushing your teeth, turn off the water. There is no need for water to run down the drain. In-stead, wet your toothbrush and turn off the tap. When you are finished brushing your teeth, turn the tap back on to rinse your mouth. Another solution might be to take a glass into the bathroom just for brushing your teeth. You can fill the glass with water, wet your toothbrush and clean your teeth. When it is time to rinse, you can rinse with your glass of water saving gallons of water from being wasted;

(2) Toilets use a lot of water for flushing especially, older toilets. If possible you could replace your toilet fixture for a newer water-wise toilet. The newer toilets use less water when you flush which also saves you money on your utility bills. Whether you chose to keep your regular toilet or buy a new one, be careful what you put into the toilet. When flushing a small facial tissue down the toilet for example, gallons of water are needlessly wasted;

(3) Long showers can waste five to ten gallons of water. Limiting showers to soap up, wash down and rinse off is a better solution. An alternative solution would be to install a water-saving shower head to help reduce the amount of water used during a shower;

(4) Taking a bath however, is an even better solution for water conservation than taking a shower-even a relatively full bath uses less water than a regular shower would;

(5) The bathroom is another place where checking leaky pipes and dripping taps on a regular basis is a good idea – leaky pipes and taps are the biggest culprit when it comes to wasting water as when they are left unchecked, drips and leaks can cause hundreds of gallons of water to be lost in a month. In addition to this, if drips and leaks are not investigated, water causes plumbing damages that are very costly to repair.

Cleaning the outside of your home means using your hose to spray-wash the exterior. If you have aluminum siding for example, washing your siding down in the spring and fall uses gallons of water and often does not do the job efficiently. An alternative might be to use a soapy bucket of water to wash the siding and then use your hose to spray-rinse the siding clean. A second alternative might be to rent a power sprayer that effectively washes and sprays the area clean in one operation.

Cleaning windows can also use a lot of water. Again, use a bucket of soapy water and then rinse them clean. Washing down the cement driveways and walk-ways can be done once a year with broom sweeping done in between. This keeps these areas looking clean all year round. When it comes to washing your vehicles at home, lots of water can be lost if you are not mindful of what you are doing. Don’t let the water run while you hand-wash your vehicle – instead, get a bucket of soapy water, wash the vehicle down and then give it a good rinse.

Watering your plants and lawns is sometimes a quandary as gardens and lawns need to be watered to stay green and to continue to grow. Being careful how you water and how often you water is the key. Some cities have in place specific days when you can water your lawns keeping conservation of city water in effect. When watering lawns, don’t waste water where it is not needed. Try the lawn test. Step on a piece of grass – if it springs back right away, then no watering is needed. If it doesn’t then it is time to water. When it comes time to water your lawn, a deep soak is better than a slight sprinkle over the area. Deep soaking the lawn means watering deep enough to get down to the roots.

Watering this way means you won’t have to water so often – every third or even fourth day will do. When you do water your lawn, only water in the cool of the day – early morning or in the evening after the sun is almost set. Another good tip for your lawns and gardens is to plant drought-resistant trees and shrubs. These shrubs thrive well and they thrive on far less water than other varieties. Putting a layer of mulch around your trees and other plants will also help in conserving water. Mulch absorbs moisture from evaporating while at the same time, discourages weed growth.

Being aware, thoughtful and mindful of water conservation is the key when we are thinking about water conservation. If we want to continue to have water supplies available for generations, now is the time to protect and preserve what we do have. By consciously taking a closer look at how we use water and learning how to conserve it properly, fresh water will be available for future generations.

Laura Petros is a successful Calgary, Alberta, Canada based ReMax Realtor who specializes in the marketing and advertising of residential real estate. Ms. Petros has a keen interest in assisting the public with the best ways to sell, market, maintain and develop their properities for maximum resale values. For more information, contact her direct at laurapetros@remax.net / klpetros@netzero.net.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Laura_Petros
http://EzineArticles.com/?Tips-on-Conserving-Our-Water-Supply&id=3034868

Take Short Showers – Save Water

by Sourav Sarkar

When considering installing a new toilet, there are a few things to contemplate. Firstly it is important that the toilet meets the recommended flushing limit. In the 1960’s, toilets were larger than the ones we use today and used around 32 litres of water every time someone flushed them. Today, low-flow toilets are pretty much standard. These basic, yet effective toilets are focused on conserving water and only use around 7.2 litres of water per flush making them the customary option on the market today.

One of the most obvious benefits of low-flow toilets is the fact that they conserve water. The average person flushes the toilet six times each day. Low-flow toilets use approximately 172 litres less water per day than other toilets. This creates massive water conservation. Using less water is also beneficial to consumers as it saves money. Due to the fact that low-flow toilets use a smaller amount of water than other toilets, their tanks don’t need to be as large. This makes the toilet smaller, and thus generally more attractive.

The environmental and economical benefits are a big plus; however it must be considered that toilets have been reduced in size and thus struggle to remove as much waste as older toilets.

If the benefits of a low-flow toilet outweigh the drawbacks to the consumer, then they are a perfectly worthwhile purchase. Almost all new toilets are low-flow varieties anyway. The money you spend to purchase the toilet can be regained in a few years by the amount of money you save using less water.

Another option for a suitable toilet is the dual flush design. This refers to the two buttons that are used to operate the toilet. Pressing one button will flush the toilet with about 3 litres of water and is generally referred to as a short flush. Pressing the other button will release about 6 to7 litres of water and is called a long flush.

Despite the use of the words “short” and “long,” the long flush of a dual flush toilet generally uses less than half of the water that is needed in a normal toilet, which by and large uses around 20 litres of water per flush. The dual flush can decrease the amount of water used by up to 60 percent when compared to a traditional flush toilet, and these savings are reflected in the water bill, making them a popular addition in money saving households and businesses.

While a dual flush toilet is more expensive than a traditional flush toilet, the savings gained from reduced water usage make it cost effective over the long term. What’s more, you will be playing your part in saving resources.

If you have decided and are ready to purchase a low-flow or dual flush toilet, make certain to do your homework and compare brands and types. Some do a better job of disposing of waste than others, and research by experts can inform you of toilets that are good quality and best buys.

More tips and advice for replacing a toilet, replacing a bath or replacing and descaling a shower head can be found at lets-do-diy.com

Article Source: ArticleRich.com

by Scott Rodgers

There are a number of simple yet highly effective ways to save water now that it is becoming more and more of a precious resource. As more States have to impose water restrictions, you will find that saving water is good for the planet and it is also good for saving you money.

When you think ‘save water’, I bet you think of mostly indoor things. There’s the dripping taps, the toilet that doesn’t stop flushing and uses too much water per flush, the shower head that doesn’t have a flow restrictor, the people who run the water while they are brushing their teeth or shaving. All these sorts of things need to be the forefront of your mind if you are wanting to save ater.

However, there’s also the chance of saving water outside. Using water outside more efficiently is the best way to ‘save’ it. Tons of water pours from the roof and into the storm water system. This is water that you could be using every day. All you need is a tank that is filled by the water off the gutter downpipes. And if you don’t like the thought of a great big ugly tank siting in the middle of your property, there’s now no need to worry as there are a number of tank manufacturers who provide tanks that can be shaped so that they closely fit to the exterior walls of your house. These tanks also now have excellent health technology so that the water doesn’t sit around at the base of the tank, but is emptied from the bottom rather than the top. There are also excellent systems you can use, mainly using some form of meshing, which can cover over the top of your meshing to prevent all sorts of muck getting into the water. You can also use water purifying systems that mean you can even use this water inside of your house for drinking and cleaning. In fact, the water that comes from the sky, as long as your guttering and tank are regularly cleaned, may well be of a better quality than the water from your local authority.

Having this supply means that you can continue to use water outside without feeling guilty about wasting town water supplies. There are a few things that are beneficial to remember, though. If you have a sprinkler system, buy a system that will water the roots of the plants rather than just have a general spray. This will aid the vegetation in growth and also use less water. Also, arrange your garden so that the plants that need more water are grouped together so that they get the full benefits of the irrigation system and the others that don’t need much water aren’t flooded and die.

If possible, clean your car or boat on your lawn, then you can use the water to complete both tasks. Ensure you utilize organic cleaners, else you poison rather than water your lawn.

Make sure that your outside fixtures are also not leaking. Recall that through the simple drips of leaking faucets, you can lose tons of water and thus, money. So, check often to make sure your faucets are not leaking.

Scott Rodgers is a plumber with many years of experience in the most effective water conservation techniques. For more information visit http://www.eLocalPlumbers.com

Article Source: ArticleRich.com

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Author: Ray Subs

NASA’s International Space Station has very limited resources. This includes water. For astronauts there, water recycling is the only feasible option. Many people don’t realize it, but water is in limited supply on earth also. Only about three percent of the world is fresh water, and of that two percent is unavailable in polar ice caps, so only one percent of the world’s water is fit for human consumption.

In the United States, the average household uses three hundred and fifty gallons of water a day. That may not seem like much, but when you multiply it out over a year that amounts to 127,400 gallons. That’s a lot of water. Of that, in some homes almost seventy percent is used for watering lawns and gardens. Because of the finite nature of our usable water and the current rate with which we use it, it makes sense that so many government and environmental groups are calling for more water conservation. Water is precious stuff. While it is technically possible to make water chemically, the amount of energy needed makes it an impractical solution

“Utilities enforce and promote water restrictions through rates, municipal ordinances, federal laws and regulations, and financial incentives.” One example of this is only allowing the public to water their lawns on certain days. Or by not allowing home car washing with a hose. Some counties only permit water fountains that use recirculated water. As far as financial incentives, some counties offer them to consumers that install more efficient or low-flow plumbing or change out their lawn for resilient plants that require less watering. The country’s average for recycling wastewater is only 2.3%. However, in areas that are plagued more frequently by drought, that percentage may be as high as twenty-five percent.

Since scientists are unable to predict droughts or the length and severity of droughts, beginning and maintaining water conservation measures and programs is the only way to ensure that our area is prepared if a drought does occur. Using wastewater for irrigation or similar work, shortening showers, conservation efforts at businesses, Aquifer Storage and Recover (ASR) programs, and other responsible consumer actions can all help. Water conservation isn’t just another environmentally friendly thing we “ought to do”. It is vital to ensure there is enough water for our children and grandchildren.

About the Author:

For more information about water conservation, please visit www.centralbasin.org

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – Facts About Water Conservation