It's Easy To Be Green, Week 3

This is another installment of Lichterman Nature Center's twelve week It's Easy To Be Green program that MLGW employees are participating in.

This week we are focusing on water usage. Did you know that you use more water in the bathroom than in any other room or area in your home? Water conservation means we must be aware of our water wasting habits and adjust our behavior to find sustainable alternatives. Become a water saver rather than a water waster.

Action Items

• Take a shower rather than a tub bath. A full tub holds 36 gallons of water. A shower uses only 3-5 gallons per minute.

• By cutting back a shower to 5 minutes, you can save 9 gallons of water. The average shower lasts 8 minutes and uses 3 gallons per minute with a low-flow shower head. That’s about 24 gallons per shower.

• Does your bathroom have a low-flow showerhead? With a low-flow showerhead, your water usage can be decreased by 50%! A low-flow showerhead dispenses 2-3 gallons of water per minute vs. 5-15 gallons by a standard showerhead. You save water, energy, and money.

• 4.8 billion gallons of water are flushed down toilets every day. If you have old toilets, reduce the water usage by placing a brick in the tank. Another alternative is to place a water-filled 2 liter plastic bottle in the tank.

• Turn off the water when brushing your teeth or shaving. A running faucet can pour out 6 gallons of water in 3 minutes.

• Don’t be a drip. Keep your plumbing (faucets, showerheads and toilets) in good repair. A moderate drip wastes two gallons of water—or more—per hour.

• Don’t use your toilet as a wastebasket. Every extra flush wastes up to 7 gallons of water.