Ho, Ho, Ho...Save H2O!

Tuesday, March 1, 2016

(NAPSA)—During this busy season of holiday parties, shopping, and family festivities, it’s easy to forget how much this time of year can increase your environmental footprint. A family of four uses about 400 gallons of water at home daily, but when you add holiday cooking and guests to the mix, the gallons can really add up! If you have a houseful this holiday season, you can still save water by using these simple tips: When cooking: ‘Thaw your turkey or other frozen foods in the refrigerator overnight instead of under the tap with hot water. Clean vegetables in a pan of water rather than running water. Whencleaning up: Running (full) dishwasher uses less water than washing dishes by hand in small batches. Andscrape the leftover scraps from plates instead of rinsing them before loading. e Whenthe guests leave: Run only full loads ofsheets in the clothes washer. Need a few holiday gift ideas for the hard-to-buy-for person on your list? Check out the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s WaterSense product search toolfor a variety ofgifts that not only save water, but are independently certified to perform well! Here are a few suggestions to make savings a fixture in your homeyear-round: Have a teenager that lets the shower run a little long? A Water- Sense labeled showerhead can save your family about 2,900 gallons of water per year, plus the energy used to heat that water—enoughto power your homefor 13 days. WaterSense labeled models also NO @ Save water this holiday season with gifts and tips from WaterSense! provide the same water coverage and satisfying spray as showerheads that use 20 percent more water. For the person on your list who loves a perfect lawn but doesn’t have the time to waterit, how about a WaterSense labeled irrigation controller? This smart appliance accesses local weather data and does the thinking for you in terms of when and how muchto water. Plants get the right amountof water, and sprinklers don’t go offwhenit’s raining, saving nearly 8,800 gallonsofwater annually. Need last-minute stocking stuff- er? WaterSense labeled bathroom faucet aerators save 700 gallons of water per year without a noticeable difference in flow, plus enough energy to dry your hair for 10 minutes a day! Check out the WaterSense product search tool at wwwepa.gov/watersense/ product_search.html, or learn more water-saving tips for the holidays at www.epa.gov/watersense.

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