6 Tips for Reducing Energy and Water Use at Home

By Eleanor Willner-Fraser, NSEN Community Engagement Volunteer

There are many options for tackling climate change and reducing the use of natural resources, from sending letters to politicians and lobbying industry to protecting natural areas and making lifestyle changes. Major players like governments and companies are typically able to have the largest impact. Nonetheless, small actions do add up and can be the easiest step for individuals to take toward sustainability.

Household energy and water consumption is significant. According to the Canada Energy Regulator, residential energy consumption made up 26% of Nova Scotia’s total energy demand in 2017—the second highest amount after transportation. The residential sector formed the largest segment of potable water use in 2019 in Nova Scotia and Canada as a whole, according to Statistics Canada. 

In 2018, Nova Scotia generated only 24% of its electricity from renewable sources. According to the provincial government’s electricity plan, the electricity sector produces the largest quantity of greenhouse gas emissions in Nova Scotia. Nova Scotia Power’s current sources for generating electricity are coal, petcoke (a by-product of oil refining), natural gas, hydro, tidal, wind, biomass, and fuel oil.

Water, meanwhile, is a finite resource, meaning that it’s the same water that gets cycled around again and again. Issues from consuming too much water can include water shortages and increased concentrations of pollutants in bodies of water. Fresh water forms only 1% of the world’s water and is rapidly becoming scarce, especially in certain regions. Climate change is increasing pressure on water supplies. Think, for example, of this summer’s droughts in Western Canada and California.

Experts talk about a “water-energy nexus,” in which water is necessary for energy generation, while energy is used to pump, treat, transport, and heat water. In the home, too, energy and water are interconnected. For example, energy is used to heat the water in the kettle and the shower. This blog post explores easy ways to reduce energy and water consumption at home.

Only fill the kettle with as much water as you intend to use

Kettles have a high wattage, meaning that they use a lot of energy in a short amount of time. In 2012 in the UK, kettles accounted for approximately 34% of electricity consumption for cooking. Granted, the British drink significantly more tea than the average Canadian. Nonetheless, kettles’ electricity consumption is nothing to sneeze at. 

There does not tend to be much energy efficiency regulation for kettles, so the best way to reduce their energy use is to change habits. For starters, try to avoid overfilling your kettle. Instead, add only as much water as you intend to use. A smaller volume of water requires less energy to heat up.

A 2016 study looked at energy consumption from kettles in 14 UK households and estimated the energy savings if residents avoided overfilling their kettles. The average savings was 40 kWh per house.

Make sure to fill the kettle at least to the minimum fill line to prolong the appliance’s lifespan and stay safe. Underfilling risks melting the plastic, causing electrocution or a fire, or otherwise breaking the kettle. If you typically boil for one cup at a time, look for a kettle with a lower minimum fill line. The average mug holds up to 350 mL.

If you have water left at the bottom of the kettle, it should be fine to reboil it. Reboiling does concentrate any chemicals in the water, but that’s not an issue if the water is inspected regularly. If you’re at all uncertain, you can pour the water on plants or use it for cleaning.

Unplug appliances when not in use

Phantom energy is the small amount of energy that devices consume when plugged in, even when not in use. Devices still draw a little power even when on standby mode. Some of the worst offenders are chargers and devices with a remote control or continuous display.

Phantom energy is typically in the range of 1 to 10 watts per device. The Berkeley Lab has a handy table showing the average standby power consumption for different appliances. If you’re curious, there are also handheld electricity monitors. The Lab estimates that phantom power accounts for 5 to 10% of residential electricity use in developed countries and approximately 1% of global CO2 emissions.

Easy options for unplugging are chargers and countertop kitchen appliances, like toasters. Besides saving energy, unplugging appliances protects against power surges and reduces the risk of electrical fires.

Consider using a power bar to turn off several appliances with one switch. Most power bars consume no energy at all when turned off. They’re convenient for shutting off hard-to-reach appliances and reduce the risk of frayed cords from frequent unplugging. You can even get power bars with features like a timer or motion sensor.

Reduce the brightness on your computer

Sustainability Victoria (in Australia) notes that computers account for up to 5% of residential electricity consumption, with monitors contributing about 25% of that energy use. According to a 2016 Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) report, the approximately 300 million computers in the United States emitted 65 million metric tons of CO2annually.

Try reducing the screen’s brightness to the lowest comfortable setting. In a dark room, you can get away with a display that’s less bright, so make sure to face the computer away from bright sunlight. According to Harvard University Sustainability, reducing the brightness from 100% to 70% can reduce monitor energy consumption by up to 20%.

Wash produce in bowls

Rinsing fruits and vegetables under the tap uses quite a bit of water. The water flow rate from the faucet varies but is typically between 4 L and 8 L per minute. It’s important to wash produce to remove dirt and prevent disease and spoilage—using two bowls can help save water.

Fill one pan or bowl with wash water. Put the fruit or vegetable in the bowl first to avoid overfilling it. Fill a second pan or bowl with rinse water, like if you were washing dishes.

Rub the produce under the wash water to remove any dirt. Next, transfer it to the clean water to give it a rinse. Finish by drying the produce with a clean towel. If you have plants, you can use the leftover liquid to water them.

Hand-wash dishes more efficiently

Surprisingly, dishwashers often use less water and energy than washing dishes by hand. A 2004 study of hand-washing in several European countries found that the averages for cleaning 12 place settings of dishes were 103 L of water and 2.5 kWh of energy. By contrast, a standard dishwasher uses about 15 L of water and 1 to 2 kWh of energy for a full load.

If you hand-wash dishes out of necessity or choice, there are a few steps you can take to reduce water consumption. Scrape food off plates before it has a chance to dry to make the dishes easier to wash. If necessary, soak dishes with crusted-on food or stubborn stains in a little hot water before cleaning them.

As you wait for the water coming out of the tap to heat up for washing dishes, try catching it in a jug or other container. Cool this water off in the fridge to use for drinking or cooking. Start by filling the sink with only a little hot water. The sink will fill up as you rinse the dishes.

Avoid adding too much dish soap to the sink since more suds require more water to rinse off. Start by washing the cleanest items to keep the water clean for as long as possible. If the water gets too greasy, drain half and add more fresh water.

To save water while rinsing dishes, use a double sink if you have one—rinse the dishes by dipping them in the second sink. You can also use a basin of clean water. Alternatively, pour a jug of water over the dishes in the dish rack to rinse off all the soap at once.

Take shorter showers

A standard shower uses anywhere from 12 to 22 L of water per minute. The number is somewhat less for low-flow showerheads. In any case, taking shorter showers is going to use less water. According to the United States Geological Survey, showers and baths are the second-largest water user for Americans, only following flushing the toilet.

The process of speeding up your shower starts before you get in the shower. Set up your supplies before you turn on the water—avoid going off to do other things while you wait for the water to heat up. If you’re allowed, try putting a mark in the shower so that you know exactly where to turn the handle to achieve your desired temperature.

Use a timer to help you cut down your shower length. Start by timing how long your average shower takes, then set a goal. Try to speed up a little bit each time. You can also make a shower playlist with only a few songs to remind yourself when the time is almost up.

Stick to the same shower routine so that you don’t waste time deciding what to do next. Consider washing your hair less often to further trim your shower time—it’s generally not necessary to wash hair every day. When you do wash your hair, consider using a 2-in-1 shampoo and conditioner so that you’ll only need to rinse your hair once. Another way to encourage yourself to take shorter showers is to wash in cold water—or at least water that’s slightly cooler than you would like.

We often don’t realize how much of an impact our small actions can have. Try some of these suggestions to reduce your energy and water consumption as you go about your day. 

Want to join the discussion? Do you know any other tips for reducing energy and water use in the home?