Once you understand how your home uses water, you can create a personalized upgrade plan that maximizes the cost-effectiveness of your home technology upgrades. The order in which you make upgrades matters: reducing water demand first allows you to choose a smaller, less expensive water heater later. A thoughtful, phased approach helps you save money upfront while setting your home up for long-term efficiency.
The average US home uses almost 10,000 gallons of water per year for showers, of which about 6,500 gallons are hot water.
The average showerhead in the US uses about 2 gallons of water per minute. By installing low-flow showerheads that use no more than 1.5 gallons per minute, households can reduce shower water use by 25%.
Shortening shower times and turning off the water while soaping or shampooing can also make a significant difference in water consumption over time. These small changes reduce both water consumption and the energy required to heat it.
The average US home uses almost 10,000 gallons of water per year for sinks, of which about 5,600 gallons are hot water.
By installing low-flow sink faucets that use no more than 0.5 gallons per minute for bathrooms and no more than 1.2 gallons per minute for kitchens or laundry rooms, households can reduce sink water use significantly. Instead of replacing the entire faucet, you can install aerators that lower water flow.
Behavior changes that reduce sink water usage include turning off the tap when it is not needed, such as while brushing teeth or washing hands, and scraping food off dishes (instead of pre-rinsing under running water) before loading them into the dishwasher.
The average US home uses almost 12,000 gallons of water to flush their toilets. Upgrading to dual-flush toilets can dramatically cut water use. Where permitted, gray water systems can also be used to supply toilets, further reducing freshwater demand.
The average US home uses over 8,000 gallons of water per year for washing machines, of which about 6,400 gallons are hot water. Modern energy-efficient front-load washing machines use between 12-16 gallons of water per load, while modern energy-efficient top-load washing machines use 18-22 gallons of water per load. Older washing machines can use over 30 or 40 gallons of water per load.
You can reduce your washing machine’s water consumption by running only full loads and rewearing clothes before washing them to reduce how many loads of laundry you do. Energy bills can be reduced by using only cold water in your washing machine.
The average US home uses over 800 gallons of water per year for dishwasher, of which 100% is usually hot water. Dishwasher water use is relatively low for a few reasons: 1) not all homes have dishwashers, 2) not all homes with dishwashers use their dishwashers, and 3) modern energy-efficient dishwashers only use 1-4 gallons of water per load.
Running only full dishwasher loads maximizes efficiency. You can also reduce water consumption by scraping food off dishes, instead of pre-rinsing dishes under running water, before loading them in the dishwasher.
Outdoor irrigation is often the largest contributor to total household water use in dry climates. Watering landscaping only when needed, ideally in the early morning or evening to reduce evaporation, helps save water. Drip irrigation and soaker hoses deliver water directly to plants, reducing waste compared with traditional sprinklers. Collecting rainwater or using gray water for irrigation can further lower freshwater use, and selecting drought-resistant plants reduces the need for frequent watering.