What You Can Do About Climate Change — Water
As the climate changes, some communities could face water supply shortages and impacts to water infrastructure. It takes a lot of energy to pump, treat, and heat water, so conserving water reduces greenhouse gas emissions, too.
- Use water efficiently at home at no-to-low cost. Turn off running faucets, run your clothes washer with a full load using cold water, and use your ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher instead of washing dishes by hand to save both energy and water.
- Look for the WaterSense label and the ENERGY STAR label on dishwashers and clothes washers when purchasing new products to save water, energy, and money.
- Check for water leaks in your home and workplace. Did you know a leaky toilet can waste 200 gallons of water per day? Luckily, leaks from toilets, faucets, and pipes are often easy to detect and fix.
- Have a water-smart landscape by designing a landscape suitable to your climate, choosing drought-resistant plants, and learning when and how much to water. See EPA’s Water-Smart Landscape guide for more tips.
- Consider installing low-flow showerheads. Not only do they save energy and money, but you can take them with you when you move.
- Take shorter showers. Cutting your shower time by even a minute can help save gallons of water.