Room by room
Bathrooms and laundries
Here's a great opportunity to add value to your home and save lots of water without having to compromise a thing.
Check for leaks and fix them right away - a leaking toilet can waste up to 95,000 litres of water a year! It's definitely worth replacing an old water-guzzling showerhead with a water saving model. They're inexpensive, there's a huge range available, and they will save the average household around $100 in water and energy each year.
You can also add flow regulators or aerators to make taps more efficient.
Replacing a toilet is more expensive, but worth it if you have an inefficient model, particularly if it's single flush. Save at least 15,000 litres of water a year by choosing an efficient 4-star model; there are many stylish options to choose from. Now you can also get a 5-star model with a sink over the cistern - particularly useful where space is tight.
Avoid baths that are bigger than you need, as they take more water to fill. Spas also use more energy than regular baths.
'Our new front loader saves us 70 litres a wash.'
The washing machine is one of the biggest users of water in the home. A 4.5-star front loader can save you 70 litres a wash, compared to the average.
Consider
using a clothes line instead of a dryer, to save money
and laundry space. If an outdoor line isn't an option,
choose a space-saving, folding indoor clothes line.
[See Your Home Reducing Water Demand,
Low impact toilets]
It's usually possible to get a great new look without ripping everything out. Are there tiles in good condition that you can leave, focusing on simpler changes like painting walls or changing fittings? Could you have your old bath re-finished instead of buying a new one?
Designers usually recommend predominantly light, neutral colours for permanent finishes like tiles, and bolder accent colour where it's easier to change, like on painted walls or by using decorative objects. This way if you tire of the colour you can update it cost effectively.
Use slip-resistant tiles, as well as moisture-resistant bathroom cabinets and joinery.
Having windows that open for ventilation is cheaper and quieter than relying on an exhaust fan. Your rooms will have a light, airy feel and you'll save on electricity.
After you've locked in ongoing water savings with
your bathroom fittings, consider going further by
using rainwater or greywater to flush toilets or in the
laundry. See Choosing rainwater & wastewater products for more information.
[See Your Home: Rainwater; Wastewater reuse.]
