Even renters can make simple adjustments to reduce their water usage There are many low hassle water conservation strategies you can employ to reduce your home?s water consumption. Just ask Shahzeen Attari, an assistant professor at Indiana University Bloomington, and Benjamin Inskeep, a research analyst at EQ Research.
In 2014, they compiled ?The Water Short List,? itemizing specific actions to make homes more water-efficient, primarily by capitalizing on technical advancements in appliances and fixtures. They found that with simple changes and upgrades, households can reduce their indoor water use by up to 45 percent.
Time has proven the validity of their suggestions. Since 1999, the average indoor water use per American household has decreased by 22 percent, largely due to the installation of new toilets and washing machines.
?Often we?re bombarded with a message of sacrifice and cutting-back,? says Inskeep. ?One of the conclusions of our paper was that simple, out-of-sight and out-of-mind [actions]?offer a huge opportunity to reduce your resource consumption.?
Whether you want to save money on utility bills or sustain natural resources, here are the simplest measures for major water savings.
1. Replace an old toilet

If you can only take one step to reduce water usage in your household, this should be it. According to the Water Research Foundation, toilets account for an estimated 24 percent of a household?s indoor water consumption. Older models...