As the holiday season nears and you prepare for festivities, now is a good time to consider simple habits to reduce water consumption around the home. Whether you’ve finalized the holiday menu or are preparing to order-in, here are eight simple conservation tips to start and share with friends and family:
In the kitchen
- Defrost frozen foods without water. Leaving the faucet on to defrost a frozen ham or turkey will waste extra water. Instead, let your frozen items defrost overnight in the fridge.
- Use the dishwasher instead of handwashing dishes. If you have a dishwasher, use it for those holiday dishes. Washing full loads of dishes saves 5-15 gallons per load and uses significantly less water than washing by hand.
- Repurpose food scraps for compost. Instead of using the sink’s garbage disposal, toss scraps into the garbage can or save those leaves, rinds and stems for making compost. Not only will you save water, but the compost can later be used to fertilize your garden.
- Rinse veggies and fruits without running the faucet. Fill a large bowl or pan with water to rinse vegetables and fruits rather than running the tap. This water can be reused to water your garden or any indoor plants you may have around the house.
In the bathroom
- Take 5-minute showers. Many of us enjoy a hot shower on a cold day, but it’s important to keep those showers short to conserve water. Try showering while singing a holiday tune under 5 minutes. All we want for the holidays is to Save Water!
- Turn off water when brushing your teeth. Remember to turn off faucets while brushing your teeth after enjoying delicious holiday treats.
In the laundry room
- Run a full load of laundry. Laundry can increase with table linens and sheets and towels for guests over the holidays. Save time, energy and water by washing items together in full loads only.
In the yard
- Water with the weather. Rain or snow expected in your area? Turn off all irrigation systems so that nature can do the watering. Going out of town for the holiday? Before you go, check the weather forecast and adjust your irrigation timer accordingly if it looks like it will rain while you’re gone. Better yet, install a smart controller to do the work for you. And remember, in these cooler months of the year it is best to cut back on outdoor watering.
