The average person in Europe uses 50 gallons of water a day. But here in America, the average Joe uses just north of 100 gallons of water a day. Believe it or not, you could still enjoy green lawns, warm showers, and flourishing plants with half of the amount of water you’re using today, you just have to know how to “stretch” your water.

In honor of Water Monitoring Day this September 18, we’re sharing 18 ways you can conserve water at home.

1. Turn the water off while you brush your teeth.
2. Water plants and your grass in the morning. Because the sun isn’t as strong around 8 a.m., your water won’t evaporate as quickly.
3. Choose a shower over the bath. A bath uses 70 gallons of water, while a 10-minute shower only uses about 25 gallons.
4. Throw your dishes in the dishwasher instead of hand washing them. Good news for whoever is responsible for the dishes in your home!
5. But just make sure the dishwasher is completely full.
6. After cooking something that requires a pot of boiling water, leave the water to cool and then water your potted flowers with it.
7. Have any leaky faucets fixed immediately.
8. Bring your car to a car wash that recycles its water, instead of doing it yourself in the driveway.
9. Wash your dog outside. Now, all of the water he splashes around will fall on your grass, instead of your floors.
10. The next time you’re in the market for new appliances, look for toilets, shower heads, and washing machines that are energy efficient or use low-flow technology.
11. Leave food out earlier in the day to let it defrost over time, instead of using warm water to thaw it.
12. Always wash full loads of laundry.
13. Cut your shower down by just a few minutes. Taking five minutes off of your normal shower time will save more than 10 gallons of water.
14. Arrange your sprinklers so that they’re watering your lawn and not your driveway or sidewalk.
15. Shrink your lawn or replace it completely with gravel, wood chips, or succulents.
16. Cover your pool when you’re not using it, to prevent water from evaporating.
17. Reuse your towels two or three times before throwing them in the wash. This will cut down on your load sizes and water-use considerably!
18. Share all of these ideas with your kids so that they’ll grow up conscious of water conservation!

In addition to saving water this season, make sure you’re keeping an eye on your overall energy use as well. At JM Roofing and Siding, the siding we install will protect your home, save energy, enhance the value of your property, and last for years. Whether you’re looking to replace or update your siding, we’ve got your house covered! For more information, give us a call at 203-299-0716.