Water Usage

Water Heating

Heating water can be one of your largest energy expenses for a home in a mild climate like San Diego's. Typically it accounts for about 14% of a household's annual energy expense. At the Xtreme Energy Makeover house, water heating was estimated to consumer almost 100 therms a year, or 17% of the annual gas bill.

Replace With A High-Efficiency Water Heater

If you need a new water heater, consider buying a high efficiency model. While it may cost more initially, it costs less to use in the long run. There are two types of efficient water heaters, the high-efficient storage water heater tank and tankless water heaters.

Water Conservation

Conserving water is as important as conserving energy in the San Diego area, with an added benefit, most of the time you conserve water you are also conserving energy in your home and also by the water utility in reduced pumping costs. When remodeling your home look for ways to reduce water consumption.

Toilets

Ultra-Low-Flush Toilets (ULFTs) use only 1.6 gallons per flush (gpf) - savings of more than 60% per flush over standard pre-1983 toilets, which use from 5 to 7 gallons per flush. High-Efficiency Toilets (HETs) uses only 1.2 gpf or about 20% less than standard ULFTs (ultra-low flush toilets). Some HET are called Dual-Flush-Toilets have two different flushing mechanisms - one for liquids and one for solid matter.

Landscaping

Landscaping is a major consumer of water and a major remodeling activity.

Smart Irrigation Controllers

New devices on the market that can control automatic sprinkler systems by measuring the amount of moisture in the ground or lawn and then adjusting the sprinkling cycles to only water when needed.

Optimal Sprinklering

Designing and adjusting a sprinkler system is another way to reduce the amount of water used for irrigating your landscape. In some places a drip-irrigation system makes sense (shrubs, plantings, etc.) while in others the standard sprinkler system works. Care needs to be taken to adjust spray heads to put water where needed and not waste water on driveways and walkways or causing runoff into the gutters.