Do You Have Optimal Water Conservation in Your Rental Property?

A green mindset is growing in popularity nowadays, and with fair right. The issues of climate change, global warming, depletion of nature’s resources, overwhelming pollution and carbon footprint are some of the key problems shaking up the international scene. 

The eco-conscious activists are busier than ever with one unified goal: saving our planet.

One of these pressing matters, is the problem of a lack of drinking and utility water. United Nations officials report that 20% of the total population is troubled by water scarcity and the available levels are dropping at a galloping speed everywhere on Earth.

With all this in mind, we have gathered some useful ideas on water conservation. Cut the waste of water and lower the costs for your rented home with some novel, highly efficient water technologies.

Double flush converters

Dual flush toilet converters are rather handy water-conserving toilet apertures. They are easy to install on almost any type of toilet and the complete replacement of a tank or bowl is not required. Owing to their smart design and adaptable flush characteristics, the converters enable us to limit the water amount that’s being used per tenant.

Another plus for these converters is their wallet-friendly price, so the saving is doubled: It saves money as a quick fix and lowers the utility expenditure in the long run. This convenience is perfect for the landlords who handle the bill, but it can also attract the tenants who take care of it themselves.

The superiority of faucet aerators

The aerators are basically a kind of an inexpensive extension for the faucet and the installation is quickly completed by screwing in the device that adapts to any house faucet type. 

It effectively deals with dispersing effect, softens the stream sound and maximises the pressure of water output. Also, the aerators moulds the released flow and helps conserve this precious liquid and heating up energy.

Drainage

You may be wondering what drains have to do with the whole water saving agenda, but only the proper maintenance of the whole water system yields comprehensive results, advise us Sydney-based specialists for blocked drains. 

Make sure the pipes are not clogged with the excess material and thus prompting leaks in unreachable joints. The waste water can also find its way back and make an unwanted damage. Search for foul smells and difficulty when emptying the sink, bath or toilet bowl.

Shower heads with lower flow

The majority of shower heads draw excessive amounts of water and the waste is considerable. To have improved management of water, go for smart shower heads with stream control traits.

Eco models of shower apparatus allow us to revel in the wonderful, warm shower while minimising the use of water involved. The market offers quite a few varieties, so pick the one that matches your funds and aesthetic preferences.

Tank bags for toilets

The inserts used for toilet tanks pose as a rapid solution for rented property with significant water waste problems. Cost-effective and uncomplicated for installation, these tank bags help cut down on water used for flushing and leave your regular habits as they were.

It depends on the water capacity of the tank and personal flushing needs whether you’re a good fit for brim-full inserts for top saving or demi-full setting that provides a more powerful flush.

Valves for flow control

Flow control valves are constructed to temporarily minimise or utterly block the water current when it’s in use. They display formidable performance in sink apertures with no dishwasher by stream reduction during soaping step, and in baths with similar minimising effect during body soaping. Apart from saving water, these intelligent mechanisms also aid in saving on electricity expenditure as the water heating process is doubly efficient.

The experts say a combination of a few saving devices produces even better results. For instance, tank bags can cohabitate with intelligent shower add-ons. Add a control valve into the equation and the energy efficiency rises by half.

Water is definitely the amenity we shouldn’t take for granted. Spend it economically, and to make that happen, employ one of these simple solutions.

How to Save on Water to Save on your Finances

Water conservation is one of the most important environmental issues that we face today. Every year, thousands of people die due to a scarcity of clean drinking water, when the amount of water wasted in urban areas grows every day. Most of us don’t think about the fact that the water that flows out of the tap in our homes is treated at a plant, and should be used wisely.

Even those of us who intend well may not understand how to conserve this precious resource. Basic steps like fixing leaky taps or turning off the faucet while brushing our teeth may be all that comes to mind. Surprisingly few people actually bother to do either of those basics, but there are a few more things that each of us can do to prevent water wastage.

How to Conserve Water and Prevent Wastage

Within our homes, in our daily lives, there are a few steps we can all incorporate to prevent the loss of water. Even a small quantity of water, saved by each household, adds up every day. Over a period of a year, your house alone may prevent the wastage of thousands of litres of clean water!

Let’s take a look at how this can be accomplished:

1. Fix the Leaks – This is the simplest way to ensure that clean water is not running into the drains, without even being used! Plug all the leaks in water pipes, replace or repair dripping taps and turn off the garden hose from the tap when it is not in use. 
2. Collect ‘Clean’ Water – When you rinse vegetables or fruit in water, don’t throw it down the drain. You could either use a separate sink that drains into your garden or wash these items in a bowl and use the water collected for house plants or garden. Do not use the water from your dishwasher or anything else that uses soap or chemicals for this. 
3. Collect the Rain – Install rainwater tanks to catch the clouds’ bounty and use it in the house. Since piped water is chemically treated and processed, you will be doing the environment a great favour by reducing your consumption of treated water. Rainwater Tanks Direct offers tanks that are quite affordable and suited to your needs. 
4. Install Two-Flush Systems – These nifty devices are not as complicated as they sound, as they can be fitted into your existing toilet. They offer two flushing modes instead of one, the first is a ‘light’ flush and the second a longer ‘heavy’ flush. Traditional toilet flushes use much more water than is generally required, resulting in huge amounts of wastage! 

Other things you could do at home include running large loads of laundry instead of multiple smaller ones, washing your car with a bucket and sponge rather than hosing it down and turning off garden sprinklers when it rains. With simple changes like these, you can conserve water on a daily basis and reduce the load on the environment too!

5 Smart Ways Property Managers Can Save Money

 (Photo credit: Bitman)

Successfully maintaining an apartment building can mean big profits for owners and savvy property managers can save even more money while keeping tenants happy. 

Even little changes have a big impact and most of these changes are energy-efficient, too. And many new and existing apartment buildings can qualify for substantial tax deductions for these eco-friendly construction and changes. 

Conserving Water and Its Use

Water prices are rising, so it’s important to find ways to conserve and use water wisely. There are many ways property managers can make changes and many of these changes aren’t too difficult to tackle.

Repair leaky faucets which also reduces costly hard-water stains. Finding the right water holding tank is important as well. As the seasons change, review the watering schedule and make changes accordingly. Another thing you need to do is to drain the water heaters once or twice per year to remove built-up sediment.

Here are a few more ideas. Retrofit plumbing, toilets, showers and faucets. You may even find some incentives and rebates to help you do so for cheaper. And another idea is to change top-loading washing machines to front load or other energy-efficient models.

Choosing Proper Lighting

Replace incandescent lightbulbs with compact fluorescent lightbulbs, and in common areas, use high-performance T8 lighting. Solar lighting recharges during the day and lights up at night and is something to consider.

You may also wish to install occupancy sensors to control common-area lighting. LED exit signs can equal further savings, about $40 per year. Consider when a room or space is vacant, the owner pays for any energy costs, so installing and encouraging efficiency is the way to go. 

Weatherizing Buildings

Sealing windows, ceilings, floors and doors with caulk, spray foam or weather stripping is one of the easiest ways to save on heating and cooling bills. According to the EPA, doing so can save up to 20 percent. Filters on heating and cooling systems should be changed every three months to increase energy efficiency and reduce the risk of failure. Also, installing programmable thermostats saves a lot of money. If funding assistance is needed, the Department of Energy has a Weatherization Assistance Program that might help your property. 

Conserving on Payroll Costs

Payroll is the single biggest operating expense. Web-based systems offer savings in this area. Property managers should also work to ensure they are hiring the right people, who will make tenants lives better. Of course, it’s important to do background checks — that is a worthwhile expense. 

Reducing the Advertising Budget

Similar to saving on payroll, going online for your advertising can also save money. Choose no-cost places to get the word out about your apartments, including Craigslist, Facebook and Twitter.

As a final tip, make sure you inspect all areas of your properties regularly and don’t defer maintenance until later. Fix things now while thinking about the future.

About the Author: Alisa Martin is a property manager with 15 years of experience. For finding the right water system for your apartment or property, she recommends Waterline Controls.