Important environmental lessons made simple. That is the goal of Modern Kids Designs Eco 101. In another Eco 101 post, we talk about the precious, scarce supply of fresh water we have on Earth and the importance of preserving that supply, both for people to drink and for the health of the ecosystem. As a follow-up, we promised some simple tips for how to conserve water. We’ve gotten a few good ideas from two websites where you can get a lot more great information: Water Use it Wisely  and the Environmental Protection Agency. So, here are our top 10 simple ways to save water at home:

1. Only use your washing machine and dish washer when they are full. Doing this can save up to 1,000 gallons a month.
2. When washing fruits and vegetables, fill a pan or bowl with water rather than using the tap. Then, you can use that dirty water to water your potted plants.
3. Avoid using a hose to clean your walkways – a broom works even better.
4. Simply shortening your shower by one minute can save as much as 150 gallons of water per month. Try to keep showers under five minutes in length.
5. Water leaks are more common than we think. So, it is a good idea to periodically check  your water meter to make sure there are no hidden leaks.
6. Turning off the tap while you brush your teeth can save an amazing amount of water – more than 200 gallons a month!
7. Surprisingly, using the dishwasher saves more water than hand-washing dishes. If you do wash dishes by hand, turn off the tap while you scrub the dishes.
8. Showers instead of baths: Taking a shower uses only 10 to 25 gallons of water, while a bath can use as much as 70. When taking a bath, remember to plug the drain right away and adjust the temperature afterward.
9. It seems checking the toilet for leaks is another good idea as well.  In many homes, a leaky toilet can waste as much as 200 gallons of water every day.
10. Consider replacing a grassy yard with mulch, shrubs and flowers that don’t need as much water. Alternatively, consider planting a vegetable garden in place of grass and enjoy food grown in your own yard. These gardens can be beautiful as well as delicious.

Well, that’s it for now. If you have additional tips or thoughts you’d like to share, feel free to leave a comment or email us, we enjoy hearing from you. Thanks for reading!