CHS: At the Heart of Conservation
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Water Conservation Facts and Tips
Did You Know:
- Oceans contain 97% of the planet’s water.
- Less than 2% of the earth’s water supply is fresh water.
- 2.8 billion people live in water-stressed areas.
- 780 million people lack access to clean water (that’s more than 2½ times the population of the USA).
- One child dies from a water-related disease every 21 seconds.
- One in every nine people lacks access to an improved source of water.
- Investing in water and sanitation is cost-effective across all world regions.
http://water.org/water-crisis/water-facts/water/
Tips for Water Conservation
- A leaky faucet can waste 100 gallons a day. Be careful to turn off water and repair leaks.
- The average 10-minute shower uses around 49 gallons of water. Take a shorter shower instead.
- You will use five gallons of water if you keep the water running while brushing your teeth or shaving. Turn off the water when it's not being used.
- Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when they are full.
- When washing your car, use soap and water from a bucket. Use a hose with a shut-off nozzle for rinsing.
- You can refill an 8-oz. glass of water approximately 15,000 times for the same cost as a six pack of soda. Reuse water bottles and/or avoid plastic-bottled water whenever possible.
http://www.sscwd.org/tips.html
Energy Conservation
- Turning your thermostat lower by one degree in winter and one degree higher in summer is a great step to reducing your energy use! Through energy use alone, the average U.S. home creates more than 13 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually (same as driving a car more than 12,000 miles).
- Make your lunch or dinner meat-free. Meat production is the leading source of greenhouse gas emissions and huge amounts of toxic waste. Visit Vegetarian Times for great recipes.
- Take one hour away from electronics and toward creation. Average U.S. homes spend more than 90% of indoor time in front of electronic screens. Disconnect from electronics and go outdoors—or sit in front of something that reminds you of the natural world.
- Kick the bottled water habit. Install a water filter on your faucet and use a reusable water bottle—one that does not leach chemicals. Look for the “BPA Free” plastic bottles or a stainless steel bottle.
- Shut off water until it is needed, while soaping dishes, shampooing hair, brushing teeth, cleaning the car, etc.
- Save energy and resources by recycling your glass, aluminum, paper and plastic. Recycling one aluminum can saves enough energy to run a TV for three hours.
- Keep a party sustainable with waste-friendly dinnerware. Plastic can take up to 600 years to break down in a landfill, and the disposable foam used for cups and other items never breaks down. Keep the environment in mind by using reusable dinnerware.
- Choose organic, when you can. As much as 40% of the energy used in the food system goes toward the production of fertilizers and pesticides (Sustainable Table).
Further Resources