Other Tips

1. Add energy-efficient showerheads and faucet aerators. These can reduce the amount of water released from a tap by up to 50 percent, which means less hot water needs to be heated.

2. Heat water to the right temperature. The recommended temperature is 120ºF (49ºC).

3. Repair leaks at once. A dripping faucet can waste 6-10 gallons (23-38 liters) of water a day. Replace worn-out washers.

4. Insulate hot and cold water pipes. If pipes are exposed beneath your home, insulate them with special pipe-insulating foam, or tape a standard insulation blanket around them. Keep cold pipes from freezing and hot pipes hot.

5. Turn your water heater off when you're on vacation. If you plan to be away for more than five days, turn your water heater off. Post a reminder to turn it on when returning.

6. Use drapes to insulate. Keep drapes closed to keep warm air in. Open drapes to allow the sun's rays to help warm rooms.

7. Take a shower instead of a bath. The average bath uses twice as much hot water as a 5-minute shower.

8. Turn faucets off when not using the water. Running water non-stop during shaving or brushing teeth is wasteful. Turn on the faucet when necessary and save thousands of gallons of water a year plus energy needed to heat it.

9. Apply weather stripping to stop drafts around doors and windows. Beneath doors, install common draft guards available at most hardware stores. Add weather stripping to window and doorframes.

10. Caulk smaller gaps. Many homes have cracks and leaks that are equal to a 2' x 2' open window.

11. Double insulate windows. Storm windows are an effective energy saver for leaky windows. An economical alternative is plastic sheeting.