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Fast and Free Summer Conservation Tips!

Summer is just around the corner! With summer comes higher utility bills. Here are some fast and free conservation tips from the Consumer Energy Center California Energy Commission to ensure you're conserving during summer!

Photo: One of Kaplan Construction's projects. A home remodel in Long Beach, CA. For more photos of this home, click here.

Photo: One of Kaplan Construction's projects. A home remodel in Long Beach, CA. For more photos of this home, click here.

  • Use your microwave to cook. Microwaves use 2/3's less energy than cooking on a stove.
  • Use your dishwasher to wash dishes (make sure it's a full load). Dishwashers use less water than hand washing. To save energy, let your dishes air dry.
  • Having lots of food in your refrigerator prevents the fridge from warming up too fast when the door is open. So fill up your fridge, so your fridge does not have to work as hard to stay cool.
  • Turn up your thermostat to 78 degrees when you are home and 85 degrees or off when you are away.
  • Help prevent power outages by using high energy consuming appliances (i.e. your washing machine and dryer) after 6 P.M.
  • Turn off lights and equipment when not in use.

For more tips on energy and water conservation, click here.

Be Water-Wise!

wateruseitwisely.com offers 200 ways to conserve water.

Here are 3 of our favorites:

Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.

Look for WaterSense® labeled toilets, sink faucets, urinals and showerheads.

Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.

Grab a wrench and fix that leaky faucet. It’s simple, inexpensive, and you can save 140 gallons a week.

Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

Run your washer and dishwasher only when they are full. You can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.

To view all 200 ways, click here.

7 Winter Water Conservation Tips

Although the 'Godzilla' El Nino is predicted for this winter season, we are still in a drought and need to conserve water.

Photo Credit: Notned Photo via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: Notned Photo via Compfight cc

Here are some water conservation tips from saveourwater.com to keep in mind this winter!

  • Check for leaks
  • Install low-flow showerheads
  • Consider investing in a rain barrel to collect rain water to be used for watering plants.
  • Keep showers to 5 minutes
  • Run the dishwasher and washing machines with full loads
  • Fill the sink when hand washing dishes
  • Do not use the toilet as a wastebasket

For more tips on conserving water, you can check out saveourwater.com's blog here.

Possibly the Best Water-Saving Showerhead?

There’s a new water saving showerhead engineered by Nebia in San Francisco with flows of 0.75 gallons per minute! How awesome is that!?

Photo Credit: Javmorcas via Compfight cc

Photo Credit: Javmorcas via Compfight cc

For perspective: the average flow rate for showers is 2.1 gallons per minute, compared to the Nebia showerhead's 0.75 gallons per minute.

What it will cost you: $399 USD, but you will have to wait until May 2016 to receive it.

For the article to see the innovative showerhead and a description of the experience using the Nebia showerhead, click here.