WHY CONSERVE COST + BUYING ADVICE

IN MINNESOTA? APPROXIMATE COST

Aerator:
While Minnesota is relatively water-
1.0 gpm, $3 ChooseRenewables
rich, there are still water consider-
ations. Much of our water is “fossil wa-
Showerhead:
ter,” meaning it is taken from aquifers
Waterpik Ecoflow 1.5 gpm, $35 Menards
that are drained much faster than they
1.6 gpm, $30 ChooseRenewables
are naturally able to recharge. And
using excessive water at home means
Toilet:
more needs to be treated by sewage
Somerville dual-flush, $200 Menards
treatment plants and more is dumped
Belmont 1.28 gpf, $140 Menards
into the river, instead of staying in the
groundwater.
Front-loading washer:
Vary significantly; starting at $500
Of course, reducing your home water
Menards
use means saving money on your
municipal water bill. And by reducing
hot water flow, you’ll also save money RETAIL STORES
on water heating. Menards (Dundas)
Showerheads, Toilets, Washers
100 South Schilling Drive
CONSERVING
Arrow ACE Hardware
Showerheads
WATER
670 South Water Street AT HOME
ONLINE RETAILERS ENVIRONMENTAL STUDIES 281: INTERIM 2010
Choose Renewables S T O L A F C O L L E G E

Aerators, Showerheads
http://chooserenewables.com

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
EarthEasy: 25 Water Tips
http://eartheasy.com/live_water_saving.htm
 PRODUCT CHANGE
BATHROOM FAUCET
15.7%
Replace your faucet aerator with a
high-efficiency (1.0 gpm or less) for
less than $5. This is double the ef-
ficiency of a standard aerator or as
much as a 6x increase in efficiency
over an unaerated faucet.
TOILET
If your current toilet is older than
1994, it is using 3.5-8 gallons for
26.8%
every flush. Any new toilet will use
no more than 1.6 gallons, and high-
efficiency toilets can use even less. If
every person in Northfield were using
a 1.6 instead of 6-gallon toilet, we
would save 374,000 gallons per day.
SHOWER
21.7% 16.7%
A 1.5 gallon-per-minute showerhead
generally costs less than $30 and can
nearly halve your water consumption.
LAUNDRY
A high-efficiency, front-loading
washing machine uses 10-20 gallons
per cycle. Compare that to an older
top-loading machine uses up to 40
gallons per cycle.
% OF INDOOR USE:
LAWN
The best way to conserve is to avoid
watering altogether — plant a xeri-
scape or allow your lawn to yellow
in the summer. See the Rain Garden
and Rainwater Collection groups for
more information.
Indoor water use statistics from the University of Georgia. Northfield toilet water-use estimate is based on 5 flushes per day by 17,00 residents.
LIFESTYLE CHANGE
Also remember to turn the faucet off
when washing your face or brushing
ChooseRenewables
your teeth.
You can also improve the efficiency of
an older toilet by filling water bottles
with gravel and sinking them in your
tank.
And remember the classic rule: if it’s
yellow, let it mellow; if it’s brown,
ChooseRenewables Toto USA
flush it down.
You can also conserve by taking short-
er showers or trying an army shower
— wet down, turn off the water while
you soap up, and rinse.
Regardless, remember to get the most
out of each cycle — only wash full
loads.
Public domain
If you do choose to water, never water
in the middle of day, and make sure
that your sprinklers are positioned in
Robert Lawton
such a way that no water is lost to the
gutter.