Water Conservation

• Reduce the temperature setting on your water tank to 120°. Be sure your dishwasher has a heating element that will heat wash water to 140° to properly clean your dishes. Use your dishwasher efficiently. Wash only full loads. Turn off the drying cycle. Allow the dishes to air dry.

• Take showers using a low-flow shower head -- only 50% of the hot water used for a bath.

• Insulate water pipes to prevent heat loss from hot water lines, keep water cool in summer, and prevent winter freezing.

• Insulate hot water tanks. Check the owner's manual of newer tanks to see what they say about adding an insulation blanket.

• After taking conservation steps, consider a solar water heater. They are effective even on partly cloudy days. In very cold climates a freeze-proof system is needed. Solar water heaters can provide all or part of your hot water year round.