Choose to Reuse

You are familiar with the three Rs: reduce, reuse, and recycle. The second R, reuse, means taking products that would otherwise be discarded and using them again in their current form, or with few repairs or changes. People often say they are recycling something when they are actually reusing it.
Reuse operations have been in place throughout the United States for many ears. Here are some examples:
Swap Shops-take used materials that would normally be discarded and make them available to employees or the public at little or no cost. Businesses and industries can designate areas where employees can collect extra supplies and materials for later use. Local governments can set up swap shops at landfills or collection centers where the public can drop off nonhazardous reusable items and pick up things they can use.
Surplus Stores-accept unwanted items and make them available internally or for sale to other agencies or to the public.
Scrap Exchanges-accept industrial scrap or printer overruns and distribute them for free or sell them at a nominal cost to schools, daycare centers, senior centers, and nonprofit organizations with arts programming.
Salvage Operations-are usually private firms that sell reusable building materials at a fraction of the current market price.
Industrial Materials Exchange Services-link businesses and industries that generate reusable products with other companies that can use those items or materials.
Secondhand Stores-can be private or nonprofit. Some own the materials they sell; others take items on consignment. Although secondhand stores are not traditionally considered a waste reduction operation, they provide an outlet for products that can be reused instead of discarded.
You can help by looking for ways to reuse before you make a new purchase. Everything you do makes a difference.

What's the Cost of Your Shower?

Showerheads manufactured after 1992 are required to use less water than their predecessors ( a maximum of 2.5 gallons per minute). If your showerhead was manufactured before 1992, consider replacing it with a higher efficiency model. Use this test to find out whether a new showerhead could save water, energy, and money:

1. Place a bucket (marked in gallons) under your shower head.
2. Turn on the shower at the normal water pressure you use.
3. Time how many seconds it takes to fill the bucket to the one-gallon mark.
4. If it takes less than 20 seconds to reach the one-gallon mark, you could benefit from a low-flow shower head.

The U. S. Department of Energy also offers a cost calculator to help determine water usage:

http://www1.eere.energy.gov/femp/procurement/eep_faucets_showerheads_calc.html

The calculator factors in expected usage, power and water costs and flow rates..

Consider replacing kitchen and bathroom faucets with low-flow models to further reduce water usage. Similar to low-flow showerheads, these are also inexpensive and easy to install. When purchasing a high-efficiency showerhead or faucet, look for a flow rate of 2.75 gallons per minute or less. When replacing a non-conserving fixture, take the old showerhead or faucet with you to the store to make sure that the new fixture is compatible.

For a relatively small investment of time, money and effort, the average household with non-conserving showerheads and faucets could significantly reduce its water use and energy bills.