Water is one of our most precious resources, especially in California. Drought swings continue to threaten the water supply of homes, businesses, and farms across the state.

Reducing water usage shouldn’t just be reserved for times of drought, though. Implementing indoor water efficiency measures in your home will help minimize California’s vulnerability to drought conditions, and can also reduce your water utility costs no matter where you live.

Here are a few everyday adjustments you can make to your water usage without even having to change any of the equipment in your home. These include:

• Take shorter showers
• Only run the dishwasher when it’s 100% full
• Reduce the temperature on your water heater
• Finally fix that leaky faucet

For the water-saving measures that require installing more efficient equipment, check out our list of 8 Water Savings Landscaping Ideas. Beyond that, there are more ways available for those wondering how to save water indoors and all approved by PACE! Let’s take a look at these top ways to save more water indoors.

1. Replace showerheads & faucets to reduce water usage

The WaterSense program from the Environmental Protection Agency recently increased the efficiency requirements for faucets and accessories. Due to the new standards, the flow rate was decreased by 32% over the previous federal standards, which dramatically reduces the overall water usage in a home.

2. Install high-efficient toilets/urinals or water delivery systems

Did you know that toilets account for 26.7% of the total water usage in an average home? Probably not, unless you’re full of random statistics. The new standard for high-efficiency toilets is 1.28 gallons per flush, but there are toilets on the market today that are rated as low as .8 gallons per flush. This can reduce your overall water usage by 16%!

3. Upgrade your water heater to save money

There are now more ways than ever to heat the water in your home. Some electric hot water systems heat your home more efficiently, reducing your energy usage and costs, while others can save water in the process as well.

Heat Pump Water Heater

Heat pump water heaters make use of the existing heat in your home to warm the water you use in your faucets, showerheads, and appliances. Over the lifespan of a heat pump water heater, Hot Water Solutions estimates that you can save $3,500 on your water heating costs.

On-Demand/Tankless Water Heaters

Traditional water heaters keep dozens of gallons of heated water on standby in a storage tank. By contrast, tankless water heaters heat cold water instantly and on-demand. That way, you only heat as much water as you need when you need it. As the name implies, tankless and on-demand water heaters do not come with the big tanks you see in closets and basements — they “tank up” a much smaller footprint.

4. Get an energy and water-efficient washing machine

If you have a washing machine that is more than eight years old, it is likely not up to par with the current standards of washing machine efficiency. In 2012, standards for washing machine efficiency were aimed at reducing water usage by 35%. And they’ve only become more efficient since then. Today, the best energy and water-efficient washing machines utilize far less energy so that the appliance upgrade can provide notable savings on more than just one utility bill.

5. Leave the dishes to an efficient dishwasher

Did you know that to hand-wash more efficiently than a dishwasher can, you’d have to be able to wash eight table settings in under two minutes? On average, an ENERGY STAR certified dishwasher also saves 3,870 gallons of water over its lifetime. So, if you decide to upgrade to an ENERGY STAR dishwasher, you can stop hand-washing and know you’re doing the environment a favor.

Bonus Water Savings Tip

Though a water softener may not directly save you water, it can help safeguard your new water efficiency investment from damage or wear and tear. A water softener reduces the level of calcium and magnesium present in some water supplies. These particles often build up and can damage pipes and appliances. Luckily, water softeners also qualify for PACE financing!

Increase Your Indoor Water Efficiency with PACE

If you are ready to upgrade to indoor water savings devices, Renew Financial has the options you need to get access to the upfront funds necessary to start your water conservation project.

With PACE financing, you can finance 100% of the upfront costs of your water efficiency project, with no money down and affordable payments locked in at a fixed interest rate. To make the repayment process more convenient, PACE payments are added as a line item on your property taxes, so there’s no extra bill to pay.

PACE financing through Renew Financial is currently available in both California and Florida. To see which water efficiency products qualify for your area, check the table below:

Want to learn more about PACE financing and what more efficient faucets and dishwashers can do for your home? Call us at 844-736-3934.