How to Conserve Water & Save Money

With Earth Day in our sights on April 22nd, residents of planet Earth are reminded about our precious natural resources. For me, I'm always thinking about water.

When I was a kid in small town British Columbia, water was an obsession for all residents.

At this time of year, if there was too much or too little snow in the winter, during the spring season this would become a daily discussion of water shortages or floods.

Kohler Canada has created a new microsite to help all Canadians learn about water conservation and offers up ideas on how to save money with some suggestions for house upgrades in the kitchen and bathroom.Kohler Canada's top 10 list of water conservation:

1. Switch to a 1.28 gallon high efficiency toilet to save up to 16,500 gallons of water per year.
2. Upgrade to a water efficient showerhead to save 7700 gallons of water per year.
3. Fix that leaky faucet!
4. Consider replacing washing machine for front-loading model which uses less water.
5. Don't wash the sidewalk or driveway with water - use a broom to keep it clean.
6. Water the garden in the early morning (and it doesn't need water every day).
7. Turn off water when brushing teeth or shaving.
8. Landscape your property with indigenous plants to reduce water use.
9. Don't pour that half full glass of water or empty the kettle down the drain - use it for the houseplants.
10. Never run the dishwasher unless its full.

Kohler recommends replacing faucets, showerheads and toilets to avoid wasting water as well as save money. Many municipalities encourage residents to make the upgrade, and will compensate taxpayers for their home upgrades. The Office of Energy Efficiency, part of Natural Resources Canada, has a list of upgrades that can help Canadians earn government rebates, save money and reduce their use of a variety of energy sources including water.