- Save tap water:
“If you leave your tap running you spend an average of 12 litres of water per minute”. So turn off the tap while brushing your teeth or when you are washing-up. A leaking tap can waste up to 120 litres of water per day! So it is important to regularly check your taps are working properly. If you drink tap water you can keep it in the fridge in a closed box for 24 hours only. You should also drink and prepare your meals with cold water instead of hot water, as bacteria develop more easily in warm water.
2- Save water while washing:
It is better to have a shower instead of a bath, as the latter consumes 2 to 5 times more water than a shower (80L on average for a shower and 150L for a bath). You can also reduce your water consumption by equipping your bathroom with basic devices such as pressure-reducing valves.
3- Clean your house without using chemical detergents:
Certain products such as chemical detergents or washing liquids (or powders) are not absorbed by wastewater treatment plants. So they are carried to lakes and rivers and pollute them. Aquatic ecosystems are endangered and the proliferation of green algae is increased.
4- Use an eco-friendly washing-machine:
“A” class washing-machines significantly reduce water consumption (by 50%) and electricity consumption (by 44%). They also have a higher wash load than “C” class washing-machines. You’re advised to select the “economy-wash” programme in order to save water and electricity. Remember to use your washing-machine in an eco-friendly way, at a full capacity.
5- Use your dishwasher advisedly:
A dishwasher consumes around 10L of water per wash whereas washing-up by hand consumes 42L. Remember to use your dishwasher at full capacity.
6- Use 100% recycled paper and limit your printouts