How To: Save money on your water bill by living greener

Choosing a greener way of living is not just good for the environment, it’s good for your finances too. In many areas of life, choosing an option that is more eco-friendly is often cost effective too; for example an electric car with no CO2 emissions is much cheaper to run that a petrol fuelled car, and switching to energy saving light bulbs will reduce your electricity bill. 

There are also ways to save on other household bills, such as your water costs, by living a greener lifestyle and taking environmentally responsible steps in your home. This is much easier if you are having a brand new bathroom suite fitted, as you can save by installing up to date, more energy efficient suites. Just as new boilers are more efficient and can slash gas and heating bills, the same goes for new technology in showers and toilets. Nevertheless, there are still plenty of other ways to be environmentally friendly and cut back on your water bill without fitting a whole new bathroom.

Read on for some top tips on living green and how to save water save money!

Top Tips for Living Green

Fit a Low-Flow Shower

Fitting a low-flow shower head can use up to 70% less water than a standard one, making it one of the most efficient ways to save water. It can majorly cut your usage and only costs between £25-£100, so you won’t be too much out of pocket initially. You can also save on water by switching off the shower while you’re washing your hair and body, and turning it back on to rinse off.    

Fit a Cistern Displacement Device

If you can fit a new toilet then do, and opt for a water efficient dual flush loo, which uses 6 litres of water per flush compared to 13 litres by some older models. If you can’t replace the whole toilet, install a cistern displacement device – some water companies offer these free of charge to their customers, and they will save a litre of water per flush.    

Check the Energy Efficiency of your Washing Machine

Many people forget that the washing machine makes up a large part of their water usage, which can differ dramatically depending on its efficiency rating. The average washing machine uses 9.5 litres of water per kilogram of clothes, but it could be much higher. To make sure your machine is water efficient, make sure it has a water usage rating of 4 stars or more – and always make sure the machine is full before starting a cycle.    

Fix Dripping Taps

A dripping tap can waste 12-20 litres of water a day – completely unnecessarily. New washers are inexpensive and can cut your water bill down, so double check taps in the kitchen and the bathroom. If you need some tips on how to fix your tap you may find our blog on leaking taps a useful read.      

Take a Shower Not a Bath

Now and again everyone enjoys a bath, but it should be kept as a rare luxury and not an everyday occurrence. A bath uses around 80 litres of water compared to 35 for a shower, so as often as you can choose a shower over a bath.  

   

Switch a Garden Sprinkler for a Water Butt

In just one hour a sprinkler can use up to 1,000 litres of water – equal to 2 days’ water consumption by a family of four. Most gardens can be adequately watered with a 10 litre watering can, but why not go one step further and install a water butt. The amount of water needed to keep the average garden healthy can be collected from your house or shed roof in a water butt. This could save thousands of litres of water during the summer, and turning off the sprinkler can save you £2.50 per hour.

Please feel free to let us know any of your own energy saving tips @BellaBathrooms. Implement the save water save money rule of thumb in your own home and reap the benefits!