Richard Kaloust Preservation

Easy Water Conservation in Your Kitchen

Conservation in Your Kitchen from Richard Kaloust By Joshua Vadney.

We’ve all heard about conserving water on the evening news. Water shortages and drought conditions in several counties across the country and local municipalities invoking rate hikes and water restrictions that can affect you and your family. Whether or not you live in an affected area, there are several easy steps families can take to reduce their water consumption just in the kitchen alone.

Here are 8 easy tips to get you started.

1. Only run the dishwasher when its completely FULL. Half loads waste water and your machine runs more efficiently when fully loaded.

2. When handwashing dishes only fill the sink half full of water. You don’t need to completely fill the sink to scrub the dishes or pans. Don’t run the water as you wash the dishes. And don’t rinse the dishes until you are done. Then rinse them all at once.

3. When cooking with water ( boiling eggs, pasta, or vegetables ) don’t throw it out when you are done. Let it cool and use it to water your plants. The nutrients in the water are better for your plants and then you don’t have to use fresh water from your faucet.

4. Do not run the faucet to get a few cups of hot water. It takes less energy to microwave a few cups of water than to waste gallons of water waiting for it to get hot.

5. Keep a pitcher of water in the fridge so you always a cold glass of water without running the faucet.

6. Fix leaky faucets. If you have a faucet that drips you are wasting gallons of water every day. Usually, its something as simple as replacing a simple o ring in the faucet handle or tightening the screw that holds it together that can stop the leak. There are many online fix it websites that will show you step by step how to fix simple leaks.

7. If you live in an older home make sure your plumbing is kept up to date whenever possible as most leaky pipes are caused by poor plumbing maintenance or improper connections.

8. If you are planning to update your kitchen appliances (dishwasher, refrigerator, etc) be sure to check their energy rating and buy the most efficient one possible. Most manufacturers have the ratings listed right on the door of the appliance so it is easy to comparison shop. It may cost you extra to buy a higher, more efficient model but you will save money over the long run.

Helpful Tips For Maintaining Your Lawn and Promoting Water Conservation

Richard Kaloust Water Conservation Techniques For Your Garden By Gerald Henry

When viewing properties in residential neighborhoods and communities, a beautiful landscape is an easily recognizable feature that attracts attention, especially to prospective buyers and investors. In a tough real estate market where there are a flood of properties that are available it is important to ensure the curb-appeal of your home if you are trying to sell. If you are not in the market for selling your property but just want to enjoy the benefits of a beautiful lawn, there are certain tips to be aware of that make it easier to maintain this portion of your landscaping. Maintaining a well-manicured lawn promotes a healthy atmosphere, increases the value of your home and acts as a filter for water entering underground aquifers such as in areas such as South Florida. A will maintained lawn also provides a felling of space and graciousness around homes and aids in noise absorption and allergen reduction.

Proper maintenance of a lawn usually begins with the frequent activities of mowing and watering. Mowing your lawn properly by choosing the proper cutting height and frequency will help to increase its weed prevention capabilities and promote a healthier and deeper root system. You should only cut one-third of the height of the grass at a time. This means that if the grass needs to be 3 inches in height, it should be cut whenever it reaches 4-1/2 inches. Grass should be left slightly taller to help supply the roots with food and improve drought tolerance, especially in shady areas. It is also important to change the direction the grass is cut at each mowing to avoid other unhealthy situations for your lawn.

Over-watering, over-fertilizing and infrequent cutting of your lawn will make it more susceptible to disease and insects. it is better to water lawns deeply, early in the morning and only when needed. If you live in an area where it rains often, this will usually provide enough moisture to keep grass healthy with minimum supplemental irrigation requirements. Additionally, only enough fertilizer should be used to maintain good color, keep it growing slowly and steadily and to encourage a strong root system. Any more than this will simply increase the frequency of mowing, make the grass more susceptible to insects and disease attacks and may add unwanted chemicals to the environment.

Inspect your lawn carefully and regularly for uneven growth, weeds, patches or signs of pests and diseases. It is very important to prevent the deterioration of your lawn and the spreading of weeds to adjacent properties. A strong and healthy lawn will promote a healthy and aesthetically pleasing atmosphere.