If you live in L.A., you might have received the ‘My Water Insights’ report in the mail as part of Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s ‘My Water Insights’ free home water management program.
In case you didn’t know about this program, it includes customized bi-monthly home water report sent by mail or email one week after you receive your water bill. According to the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power’s website, this report:
- Breaks down daily usage in gallons
- Compares usage to other households in the neighborhood
- Scores overall water efficiency and provides ‘Your Water Score’ in each report so you can gauge water conservation usage month to month
- Includes water conservation rebate opportunities to conserve more water and a personalized plan for saving water
To learn more about the free program, which all single-family residential account customers are automatically enrolled in, click here. You can also sign up for free leak alerts and access the My Water Insights Online Portal for even more information about ways you can conserve water in the new year!
Steve and I just received our report and it was a great reminder to stay cognizant of our water usage. We have a large lot to irrigate and our goal for 2025 is to cut back on sprinkler usage so we can lower our water usage next year.
If, like us, one of your New Year’s resolutions is to embrace an even more sustainable lifestyle at home, here are some easy ways to accomplish that goal!
Get Strategic with Your Sprinklers
Cut back on time for your individual sprinkler zones and install a waterwise sprinkler control that senses when it’s wet or raining. This will ensure the sprinklers shut off during those times, even if you forget to turn the sprinklers off or are out of town.
Check Your Electricity Timers
Electric timers can be set to go on at dusk and off at early morning hours. So many people forget to adjust timers for lighting, especially for Daylight Savings Time, so we’ll see dark houses when the sun goes down or houses with lights on during the daylight hours.
Swap Out Your Lightbulbs
Are your lightbulbs energy efficient? By simply swapping out incandescent lighting with LED bulbs (especially ENERGY STAR rated bulbs), you use about 75% less energy – and the bulbs last about 25 times longer!
Check for Leaks
When was the last time you checked your home for leaks? EPA.gov reports that 10% of homes have leaks that can waste as much as 90 gallons of water (or more!) every day. Leaks also amount to more than 10,000 gallons of water wasted by a household each year. Check your leaks to save water!
Whether it’s adjusting your sprinklers or replacing your light bulbs, there are so many easy ways to live a more sustainable lifestyle in the new year! As always, feel free to contact me for even more tips!
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Andrew Manning • REALTOR® • Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties • DRE: 00941825 • 818-380-2147 • andrew@andrewmanning.com