AIR PURIFICATION AROMATHERAPY BABIES
BEDDING BIRDING BODY CARE
BOOKS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS
CAMPING CATALOGUES CLASSIFIEDS
CLEANING PRODUCTS CLOTHING COMPUTER PRODUCTS
CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS CRAFTS
ECO KIDS ECO TRAVEL EDUCATION
ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES ENGINEERING
FITNESS-YOGA FLOWERS FOODS
FOOTWEAR FURNITURE GARDEN
GIFTS HARDWARE HEMP
HERBS HOUSEHOLD INDUSTRY
INVESTMENTS JEWELRY LIGHTING
MAGAZINES MUSIC NATURAL HEALTH
NATURAL PEST CONTROL NEW AGE OFFICE
OUTDOORS PAPER PETS
PROMOTIONAL RESOURCES RECYCLED SAFE ENVIRONMENTS
SEEKING CAPITAL SHELTERS SOLAR-WIND
TOYS TRANSPORTATION VIDEOS
VITAMINS WATER WEATHER
WHOLESALE WOOD HOW TO ADVERTISE

Green Living Magazine
Updated Daily!

* * * IN-HOUSE RESOURCES * * *
WHAT'S NEW ACTIVISM ALERTS DAILY ECO NEWS
LOCAL RESOURCES DATABASE ASK THE EXPERTS ECO CHAT
ECO FORUMS ARTICLES ECO QUOTES
INTERVIEWS & SPEECHES NON-PROFIT GROUPS ECO LINKS
KIDS LINKS RENEWABLE ENERGY GOVERNMENT/EDUCATION
VEGGIE RESTAURANTS ECO AUDIO/VIDEO EVENTS
COMMUNICATIONS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ACCOLADES
AWARDS E-MAIL MAILING LIST

EcoMall

EcoMall

ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY
HABITS FOR HOMES

What better place to start and concentrate than in your own home? It's where we spend most of our time, it's where we have the most control over how things are done, it's where we want to feel safest, and it's where we display to the world who and what we really are.

IN THE KITCHEN, BATH, AND LAUNDRY ROOM

The average family of four produces about 1,400 litres of waste water each day, just from indoor water uses.

About 75% of indoor water use in our homes occurs in our bathrooms, and toilets are the single greatest water users.

  • Use a water flow-reducer attachment in your sink faucets and shower heads to reduce water use and wastage.
  • Always be sure to turn taps off tightly so they do not drip.
  • Promptly repair leaks in and around taps and faucets. (One leak can waste several thousand litres of water per year.)
  • When hand-washing dishes, or cleaning fruit and vegetables, never run water continuously. Wash them in a partially filled sink, then rinse them quickly under the tap.
  • If you have an automatic dishwasher use it only to wash full loads, and use the energy saver or shortest cycle possible.
  • Keep a bottle of drinking water in the refrigerator, instead of running the tap until the water gets cool each time you want some.
  • Put food scraps into the garbage or preferably a compost pile (except meat scraps), not into a sink garbage-disposal unit. Such units waste water, add unwanted solids and grease to septic tank systems, and sometimes overload sewage systems.
  • If you have a garden, create and maintain your own compost pile. You can produce your own organic fertilizer and reduce the garbage you throw out.
  • When washing or shaving, partially fill the sink basin and use that water rather than running the tap continuously. (This saves about 60% of the water.) Use short bursts of water to clean razors.
  • Likewise, when brushing your teeth turn the water off while you are actually brushing, instead of running it continuously. Use water from a mug for rinsing. (This saves about 80% of the water.)
  • Use energy-efficient showerheads or take "sailor's showers" -- that is turn off the water while you are soaping and shampooing, and then rinse off quickly.
  • Short showers use less water than baths; but if you still prefer bathing, avoid overfilling the tub -- one quarter full should be enough.
  • Reduce water use in the toilet by about 20% by placing two weighted 2-litre plastic bottles filled with water, in your toilet tank. Or reduce water use by 50% or more by installing low-flush toilets.
  • Check regularly for toilet tank leaks into the toilet bowl by putting a small amount of food colouring into the tank and observing if it spreads to the bowl without flushing. Repair leaks promptly. Also periodically examine whether the plunge ball and flapper valve in the tank are properly "seated" and replace parts when necessary.
  • Likewise, regularly check for leaks at the base of your toilet, and have any promptly repaired.
  • Flush your toilet only when really necessary.
  • Never flush garbage of any kind down your toilet. Household cleaners, paint, solvents, pesticides and other chemicals can be harmful to the environment. And cigarette butts, paper tissues, paper diapers, dental floss, plastic tampon holders, condoms and the like can create problems at sewage treatment plants.
  • If your water heater and pipes are not already insulated, then do so to obtain hot water more quickly and reduce waste.
  • Locate your water meter and periodically record the reading late in the evening and again early the next morning between any water use. Compare the readings to see if there was any leakage during the night. If so, track it down and have it repaired promptly.
  • Wash only full loads of laundry in your washing machine. If your washer has an adjustable water level indicator, set the dial to use only as much water as is really necessary.
  • Use the shortest cycle possible for washing your clothes. Use cool water rather than hot, and use the "suds-saver" feature if your machine has it.
  • Use only cleaning products that will not harm the environment when they are washed away afterwards. Buy phosphate-free detergents, and avoid using bleaches and commercial fabric softeners.

CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE -->

Click below to e-mail this article to a friend
or to post a link on your favorite sites.
Thank you! Bookmark and Share

Written by: Atlantic Region Green Lane - Environment Canada

RELATED LINKS:



AIR PURIFICATION AROMATHERAPY BABIES
BEDDING BIRDING BODY CARE
BOOKS BUSINESS OPPORTUNITIES BUSINESS-TO-BUSINESS
CAMPING CATALOGUES CLASSIFIEDS
CLEANING PRODUCTS CLOTHING COMPUTER PRODUCTS
CONSTRUCTION CONSULTANTS CRAFTS
ECO KIDS ECO TRAVEL EDUCATION
ENERGY CONSERVATION ENERGY EFFICIENT HOMES ENGINEERING
FITNESS-YOGA FLOWERS FOODS
FOOTWEAR FURNITURE GARDEN
GIFTS HARDWARE HEMP
HERBS HOUSEHOLD INDUSTRY
INVESTMENTS JEWELRY LIGHTING
MAGAZINES MUSIC NATURAL HEALTH
NATURAL PEST CONTROL NEW AGE OFFICE
OUTDOORS PAPER PETS
PROMOTIONAL RESOURCES RECYCLED SAFE ENVIRONMENTS
SEEKING CAPITAL SHELTERS SOLAR-WIND
TOYS TRANSPORTATION VIDEOS
VITAMINS WATER WEATHER
WHOLESALE WOOD HOW TO ADVERTISE

Green Living Magazine
Updated Daily!

* * * IN-HOUSE RESOURCES * * *
WHAT'S NEW ACTIVISM ALERTS DAILY ECO NEWS
LOCAL RESOURCES DATABASE ASK THE EXPERTS ECO CHAT
ECO FORUMS ARTICLES ECO QUOTES
INTERVIEWS & SPEECHES NON-PROFIT GROUPS ECO LINKS
KIDS LINKS RENEWABLE ENERGY GOVERNMENT/EDUCATION
VEGGIE RESTAURANTS ECO AUDIO/VIDEO EVENTS
COMMUNICATIONS WHAT PEOPLE ARE SAYING ACCOLADES
AWARDS E-MAIL MAILING LIST

EcoMall