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[S122]Saving Water And Energy

by Jim Corkern, Jim

The most important thing that you need to worry about if you plan on sticking out a hurricane in your home instead of evacuating is just how much clean water you have to drink. If you live alone and there will be no one staying with you, it will be a lot easier for you to prepare to stay at home during the storm, but if you have a family that will stay with you, you will have to gather a lot more supplies.

You should also have a good supply of non-perishable food (preferably foods that you do not have to cook and are ready to eat out of the package), batteries for anything you think you will need, flashlights, a hand-crank radio, and blankets.

The hand-crank radio will ensure that you have the capability to hear what is going on in the outside world during the storm, even if your electricity does go out. This will let you know what your local, state, and federal government is doing at this time.

As far as your water supply, if you have just moved to an area that is prone to hurricane damage, you should start saving up water as soon as you get moved into your new home. You can do this by re-using milk jugs after you have rinsed them out and storing them in a safe, convenient place in your home.

You should keep at least one gallon for yourself and for each person you will have with you during the storm to use each day you expect the storm to last. Saving up a week's worth of water in this way is advised and will ensure that you do not run out of water.

While the storm rages outside, do not drink water from your faucet because of the fact that it may be contaminated with anything from bacteria, sea water, and leaves to sewage and other hazardous waste. You can boil water from your faucet if you run out of the supply that you have saved, but it is much better to make sure that you have enough water put back so that you do not have to do this. Boiling water does not remove all impurities or harmful materials, especially if it has been contaminated with chemicals.

You can also buy some water purification tablets from some department and outdoor supply stores. Anyone who hikes or camps purchases these if they plan on going into an area of wilderness where clean water is not always able to be obtained.

The State of Calgary's Water Supply

According to a City of Calgary Waterworks and Wastewater report, the growing population of this city, recent droughts, and agricultural demands downstream of the Bow and Elbow rivers are the causes of the water supply's stress. Average per capita use of water sits at about 516 L per day. To ensure our supplies can keep up with demand, that number needs to drop to about 330 L per day.

There are a number of easy and inexpensive water conservation options available to help each of us reduce the amount of water we use on a daily basis. Some of these are outlined here. For professional advice and installation, you may want to consult a plumber. A licensed plumber has the expertise to assess your home's water needs and offer you a solution that meets those needs while increasing efficiency.

Talk to Your Plumber About Low Flow and High Efficiency

Let's start with one of the easiest fixes – toilets. Low-flow toilets can cut your water use by a huge amount. According to Natural Resources Canada, replacing your 18L toilet with a 6L model will reduce the amount of water flushed by 66% and lower your overall indoor water use by about 30%. Another great innovation is the dual-flush toilet – use the short flush for smaller amounts of waste and the longer (but still only 6L) flush for larger amounts of waste. As an added incentive, the City of Calgary is currently offering a $50 credit on your water bill for each toilet you replace.

Low-flow showerheads are another economical and easy fix (at least for a plumber!). Basic models can cut water use by up to 70% and they only cost about $10. Not only do you save water, you can also save up to 15% on the cost of heating your water.

Speaking of heating your water, your plumber can you help you there too. While it may not save water, a high-efficiency water heater will reduce your energy costs. Ask your plumber to evaluate your home and your typical water use when determining the size of water heater you need. There's no sense buying a large tank if you don't need it.

Running your tap while waiting for water to heat can waste up to 10L of water. The City of Calgary estimates the amount of water wasted in this way to equal about 3 bathtubs full each month! To help keep the water in your pipes warm, ask your plumber about insulating your pipes. A hot water recirculation pump can help too, by moving cold water near the tap back to the water heater and replacing it with warm water, to ensure that the water near the tap is warmer.

If you have old appliances and some money in your budget, look into an Energy Star washer and dishwasher. Some models use up to 45% less water. The City of Calgary and Energy Solutions Alberta are currently offering a rebate for energy saving dishwashers.

Your Plumber is Your Partner in Water and Energy Savings

Saving water benefits your family and your community. For advice on how to get started on a water conservation program, contact your local plumber.

Article Source : Pg. 56

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Both Jim Corkern & James Barry are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.

Jim Corkern has sinced written about articles on various topics from Home, Health and Guide Guitar. Jim Corkern is a writer and promoter of quality and. Jim Corkern's top article generates over 823000 views. to your Favourites.

James Barry has sinced written about articles on various topics from Information Technology, Build Online Business and Computers and The Internet. For more information on a or. James Barry's top article generates over 1900 views. to your Favourites.