Women at work and their tips, challenges, advice, complaints, and experiences

Over the past several days we've touched on easy ways to conserve water inside your home, from eliminating leaks to keeping a pitcher of water cool in the fridge.  Implementing these few little habits will not only help you save water, it will save on your water bill.

But what about outside your home?  After all, if 70% of a family's water is used indoors, what can we do to cut back on that other 30%?  Here are three little things you can do - and one of them may surprise you (and save you some time as well)!

1. Sprinkle LESS: Do you have automatic sprinklers?  Install a sensor that shuts off the system when it rains.  This simple step can cut a good 15% off your outdoor water use alone!  If you're turning your sprinkler on manually, make sure you're not overwatering.  An inch of water one day a week is adequate; be sure to water during the morning or evening, not the hottest hours of the day.  This will help ensure that moisture is going into the ground (and plants) rather than just evaporating.  Better yet, consider letting grassy areas go dormant.  It's better for your grass and better for your bills if you can get used to not having a yard that looks like a golf course.
2. Sweep up, DON'T HOSE:  That's right - grab a broom and sweep that front porch, walkway, driveway and sidewalk!  First of all, not using the hose to spray it all down means eliminating wasted water.  Secondly, you'll be burning calories.  A win-win situation!  (Don't forget to put on your pedometer too - count those steps while you sweep!)
3. Head to the CAR WASH, baby:  That's right!  You wouldn't think it, but washing your car with a hose can actually be more wasteful than running your vehicle through the car wash once a week.  Many car washes recycle water now, so you're actually better off that way.  If you're the type who can't stand car washes or you don't want to spend the money (same here!) then just be sure to use a bucket of water and a hose with a shut-off valve on the wash nozzle.  That way you're not leaving the hose running.  Double points if you pull your vehicle(s) onto the yard and wash them there, which is actually my preferred method, personally - you're recycling your own water!  Just be sure to use a wash solution that is biodegradable so you don't leave yucky chemicals in the yard where pets and kiddos play.

Want some more ideas on how you can cut water wasting in your home and office?  Check out H2ouse.org.  You can go room by room finding ways to save water and greenbacks!