Green Initiatives Protect the environment by conserving natural resources. Guardian Water & Power is committed to cost recovery and resource conservation. Industry studies continue to document the linkage between conservation and submetering. A study conducted by the National Multi-Housing Council and the National Apartment Association found an 18 to 39 percent reduction in water consumption in submetered apartments compared to apartments that include water expenses in rent. Green Products Carbon Footprint Calculator Featured Conservationists Conservation Tips Green Tweets

Featured Conservationists

• Water – Use it Wisely
  • This blog features "100 Ways to Conserve Water". Following these tips will have you saving money by the day.
• Water Crunch
  • Engineer Robert Osborne's blog addresses water topics like water conservation history, issues, and personal stories.
• Coyote Gulch
  • This blog features water conservation quotes from relevant Colorado news articles.
• Hydro-Logic
  • This blog addresses water resources news, books written about, and controversial water conservation issues.
• Watery Foundation
  • Tom Swihart provides his input on Florida water conservation issues and policy.
• Spouting Off
  • Mark Gold’s blog addresses water conservation.
• Potty Girl
  • This blog discusses water conservation, toilet water use, and how to improve water efficiency.
• Water Matters
  • A presentation of global water conservation issues.
• Blue Living Ideas
  • This blog suggests water saving tips and discusses water conservation issues.
• Rainbow Water Coalition
  • This blog focuses on the reuse of water.
• WaterWired
  • This blog addresses freshwater conservation.
• WaterConserve
  • This blog features a tool that enable users to search for trending water conservation topics around the world.
• Water for the Ages
  • Abby Brown addresses water conservation issues.
• Sierra Club of California - Water Conservation
  • The Sierra Club of California takes various measures to conserve water in their state.
• D.O.E. Consumer Guide to Energy Efficiency
  • Energy Savers provides homeowners with tips for saving energy and money at home and on the road.
• Earn LEED Credits By Sub-Metering
  • LEED promotes sustainable building and development practices through a suite of rating systems that recognize projects that implement strategies for better environmental and health performance.

Conservation Tips

• Operate dishwashers when they are fully loaded. Dishwashers use 7 to 25 gallons of water per full load.
• Store drinking water in the refrigerator instead of letting the tap run until the water is cool.
• Don’t use running water to thaw frozen meat or other frozen foods. Defrost food overnight in your refrigerator.
• Be sure to use a sufficient amount of detergent when running the dishwasher to prevent a second wash.
• Scrape all excess food off of plates and use the shortest cycle mode when starting the dishwasher.
• Use energy saving cycle modes when possible (e.g. "air dry").
• In the summer, use dishwasher and oven in the early morning or at night as to avoid adding unnecessary heat to the house during the hottest part of the day.
• Limit the use of exhaust fans in the kitchen, they allow cool air to escape house.
• Use the smallest pan as you can, smaller pans need smaller amounts of energy.
• Limit "pre-heating" the oven when possible.
• When baking, try not to open the door until finished.
• Use residual heat to finish cooking. Turn off oven or stove when food is about to be finished.
• Refrigerators should be kept 38 and 42 degrees Fahrenheit. Freezers should be kept between 0 and 5 degrees Fahrenheit.
• Keep refrigerator coils free of dust and dirt.
• Do not keep refrigerators open more than they need to be. Often times, refrigerators will have alarms when the door has been left open for too long.
• Allow hot items to cool before placing in the refrigerator.
• Before leaving the house for an extended period, turn down the refrigerator and remove perishable goods.

• Since bathroom facilities account for 50% to 75% of all residential water usage, make sure there are no leaks in your toilet tanks, sinks and showerheads.
• The best way to check for toilet tank leaks is to put some food coloring in the tank. If there is a leak, the color will show up in the bowl in 20-30 minutes.
• Report any leaks to your property manager as soon as possible. Even a slow leak can be expensive. For example, a faucet leaking at the rate of one drop per second will waste hundreds of gallons of water per month.
• If toilet handle sticks frequently, report this problem to your property manager.
• Don’t use the toilet as a trashcan. Every flush can take 5 to 7 gallons.

• Operate clothes washers when they are fully loaded. Washing machines can use over 50 gallons of water per load.
• In the summer, run dryer at night as to avoid adding unnecessary heat to the house during the hottest part of the day.
• It takes about the same amount of electricity to run a small load of clothes as it does a large load. Only wash full loads of laundry.
• Limit excessive drying of clothes.
• Clean the lint filter after every load.
• During summer months, hang clothes to dry outside.

• Turn off appliances when not in use (television, radio, etc.)
• Keep lighting fixtures clear of dirt and dust.
• Do not leave appliances that are rarely or seasonally used plugged in.
• When leaving for a long period of time, unplug all appliances that will not be in use.

• Replace damaged weather striping around doors and windows.
• Seal windows with plastic film to keep out drafts
• During winter months, keep shades and blinds open during the day to allow sunlight and heat into your home.
• Set your thermostat at 65º-68º F during the winter while you're home during the day. Lower it at night or while you're away to 55º-58º F. Please note that people with medical problems may require a higher setting.
• If possible, use a humidifier in the winter. Moist air feels warmer and you can set your thermostat lower.
• Keep furnace filters clean. A dirty filter increases heating costs.
• Dust or vacuum air ducts, registers, radiators and refrigerator coils regularly.
• If you have a fireplace, make sure the damper is closed when not in use.
• Rearrange furniture that is blocking air ducts or heating registers.
• If you have baseboard heating, keep the baseboards free form obstructions.
• Keep your air ducts free from obstructions.
• Eliminate the use of space heaters; they are very expensive to operate.

• At night, close shades and blinds to slow heat loss through the glass.
• Rearrange furniture that is blocking air ducts or heating registers.
• Dust or vacuum air ducts, registers, radiators and refrigerator coils regularly.
• Keep your air ducts free from obstructions.
• Use ceiling fans, this way the thermostat can be set at a higher temperature.
• During summer months, keep shades and blinds closed during the day to block sunlight and heat from your home.
• Do not use humidifiers when Air Conditioning is running.

• To find out more about the water conservation technique of Xeriscaping, click here.