brightmasthead3
September 17, 2009
Hello,    
 
Let's all do our part in reducing our water consumption!
 
When you conserve water, you are:
  • Helping prevent pollution
  • Extending the life of your septic system
  • Conserving the amount of available drinking water in the world
  • Reducing your utility bill!

Here are some simple tips to conserve water in your home:

1) Check for Leaks!
            Put a little food coloring in your toilet tank, then see if it appears in your toilet bowl without flushing. If it does, you have a leak. Also check faucets and other pipes for leaks. Another easy way to find a leak is by looking at your water meter. Read the meter, and then don't use the water for at least 2 hours. If there is a change in the reading, there is a leak somewhere.
 
2) Don't use the toilet as an ashtray or garbage!
            All of that extra flushing uses unnecessary water.
 
3) Install low-flow shower heads!
            These are easy to install and can save quite a bit of water. A regular shower head uses 5-10 gallons per minute. A low-flow showerhead uses less than 2.5 gallons per minute!
 
4) Put plastic bottles or float booster in your toilet tank!
            Fill a water bottle with rocks or sand, or use a brick. Put them in your toilet tank away from the operating mechanisms to displace the water. Be sure to leave at least 3 gallons of water in the tank. Or, if you are in the market for a new toilet, you can purchase a low flush toilet which only uses 1-2 gallons per flush.
 
5) Insulate your water pipes!
            Take pre-slit foam pipe insulation to wrap around your water pipes. The water will heat up faster and stay warm longer.
 
6) Take a shorter shower!
            Plain and simple! The less time you're in the tub, the less water you'll use!
 
7) Turn off the water after you wet your toothbrush!
            Why waste water by letting the faucet run?
 
8) Rinse your razor in the sink!
            If you fill the sink and rinse your razor in it you will use far less water than with a running faucet.
 
9) Use your dishwasher and clothes washer for full loads only!
            If you're only doing a partially full clothing load, adjust the cycle type to use a lower level of water. Also, look for energy star rated appliances that are built to conserve.
 
10) Minimize use of garbage disposals!
            Start a compost pile instead! This will be very useful for your garden, and be another way to avoid wasting water.
 
11) Store water in the fridge for drinking!
            Running tap water to make it cold is wasteful. If you'd like your water cold and purified, use a pitcher with a purifying system built in it. If not, just fill a pitcher of water and keep it in the fridge for a refreshing drink.
 
12) Plant drought resistant shrubs, lawns and plants!
            These types of plants require less water than many other kinds of landscaping, and are generally lower maintenance.
 
13) Put a layer of mulch around trees and plants!
            Mulch slows evaporation and discourages weed growth.
 
14) Don't water the sidewalk!
            Make sure your sprinklers are aimed at the plants you would like watered. Watering the sidewalk or driveway is a big waste!
 
15) Use a rain barrel to catch rainwater from your gutter!
One of our Sustainability Committee members, Dave Phipps, uses this rain barrelsystem to water his plants.
 
A 55 gallon rain barrel catches the rain from the gutter. Dave then uses this water for his lawn and other plants. This is not a good idea for edible plants (for example, your vegetable garden) because of roof runoff, but it works great for the rest of your yard.  This version costs $50 for the rain barrel, $7.99 to paint it to match your gutter, and $3.99 every 90 days for mosquito dunks! 


Looking for new great ideas!
 
We are always looking for new ideas on how we can all work together towards our goal of making both Avanti and Omnigraphics more sustainable companies (check out our MISSION statment at the end of this e-mail).

We encourage anyone to submit their ideas or thoughts on what we can do to anyone on the Sustainability Committee.  The members of the committee are: Cal Kerr, Athena Inempolidis, Nick Tritt, Matt Gall, Charlotte Hill, Dave Phipps, Liza Pulgini and Mary Butler (Omnigraphics).  


 
Thanks and go green!

athena

Athena Inempolidis, ext. 143
 
 
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                     OUR MISSION 
Our mission is to promote, support and measure sustainability throughout Avanti and Omnigraphics and to insure that each strategic decision takes into account its current and future impact on our environment.