Dishwashers Really do Save Energy

For years we never considered buying a dishwasher because we thought they used too much water and energy. Then I read in Consumer Reports magazine that, no matter how frugal you are, washing a sinkful of dishes used at least 4 gallons of water (plus the energy to heat it). We got an old dishwasher for free, that used only 7 gallons for a day's worth of dishes. Now, we have an Energy Star model that uses about 5 gallons. We use the shortest cycle we can to save energy - you can always spot-clean if a dish or two comes out with a bit of soil left on it.

Water Your Garden Using Rain Barrels

Every year, we set up one or two rain barrels underneath our gutter downspouts. All spring, summer and fall, we have a ready supply of water with which to water gardens, rinse out buckets, wash cars, etc. Our lot is on a hill, so we are able to use gravity to drain the barrels. Once you set these barrels up, you will be surprised by the many uses you will find for the water, all without straining your well pump and wasting precious resources.