The media presents us with no shortage of stories about climate change and our endangered environment on a daily basis. Conservation is more than just a "virtue" (as it was described by a certain former vice president). Getting ahead of the curve on the issue of energy efficiency will be crucial to the success of our civilization going forward. And in the short run, it can save you some money on your utility bills.
If you want to know some of the best ways to conserve water and electricity, while helping the environment at the same time, you don't have to bother a civil engineer or attend the next tree-hugger convention. Rather, you can take your questions to a reputable plumber, and he (or she) will be glad to answer them. It turns out that it really doesn't take much time or effort to cut down on your use of water and electricity.
Newer appliances, such as washing machines, driers and water heaters, use less energy than ever before. Taking additional steps, such as installing a tankless water heater - or even just washing your clothes in cold water - will lessen the need for hot water. Heaters with elements are constantly consuming energy, which is why solar water heaters are increasingly popular. Even wrapping your water heater with an insulating jacket can reduce stand-by heat loss by as much as 45 percent.
Tightening up those leaky faucets, as everyone knows by now, can save any number of gallons of water - as much as 200 per day in some cases. Low-flow shower heads (which can cut water usage by two-thirds), coupled with newer gallon-per-flush commodes, can save even more. You can maximize dishwasher space by not running it until it's full, and scrubbing the big pots and pans by hand. If you do all of these things and the bills still seem high, it might be time to hire a good Phoenix plumber to check for the kinds of leaks that are not visible to the naked eye.
