With summer just around the corner the front and back yard will be our next place of focus on saving natural resources while saving money.
Drip irrigation is a great way to save water, which will ultimately save you money.
According to the University of Rhode Island, drip irrigation is 90 percent efficient at delivering water, whereas a sprinkler system is only at 65 to 70 percent.
A drip system is easy to install and can cost as little as $100 to $200.
If you have sprinklers, try using them early morning or evening. This will save water from evaporating in the heat of the day.
Household water use accounts for 40 percent of household water bills, and the irrigation of lawns in the U.S. claims 7.9 billion gallons of water per day according to “The Green Book” (by Elizabeth Rogers and Thomas Kostigen).
Purchasing drought resistant and native plants will help you save money, water and time. Go to Californiagardens.com and find a complete list of drought tolerant plants.
Did you know you can purchase a rain sensor system for your lawn?
They cost about $30 and take about an hour to install. The edge or eve of the house is a popular spot to mount the rain sensor. A wooden fence is another option.
Just remember to mount the sensor in a spot where it is clear of trees and other obstructions so that the rain can directly hit the sensor.
The rain sensor can then be set by a simple adjustment to shut off the sprinkler system at anywhere from an 1/8 inch to 1 inch of rain.
Your particular setting will depend on your landscape, soil condition and weather. When it rains, you won’t have to worry about turning your system off, the sensor does the work for you.
How about fitting your hose with an automatic shut-off nozzle? According to the “The Green Book” you can save up to 6.5 gallons per minute by attaching one of these to your hose.
If 10 percent of U.S. households attached shut-off nozzles the water saved would fill more than 128,000 bathtubs every day.
When mowing your lawn, keep the grass at least two inches high and leave the clippings on the lawn. Both of these things will help your lawn consume less water.
Not only will this save water, but you will save time not mowing your lawn as often.
By covering your pool you will not lose water due to evaporation. The amount of refill water that a pool cover will save you is 30 to 50 percent, and it will help reduce your pool’s chemical consumption by 35 to 60 percent.
This also reduces maintenance time by keeping leaves and other debris out of the pool, this according to planetgreen.discovery.com.
If you have outdoor lighting, make sure to turn the lights off when they are not needed. Timers and motion sensors will help make it easy for you.
If you spend on average $13 per year, per 100-watt bulb on electricity, start adding up your light bulbs outside and figure how much you will save annually.
Surprise yourself and think of other ways you can save money, time and natural resources in your yard this summer.
Kristi Meyer is a real estate agent with HomeTown Realtors in Auburn. She has been serving the Placer and Sacramento counties for the past six years. For questions, comments or tips, contact Meyer at
seekristi@seehometown.com.
