We read somewhere that the single easiest thing any household can do to save energy (money) and slow down the rate the planet is heating up is to turn down your water heater.

If summer means you will leave the house for a short- or long-term vacation, you can either turn off or adjust your water heater to save money. Why pay to heat water you won’t be there to use? Most water heaters have a switch or dial toward the bottom that might have a setting that says “vacation” or “low,” and nearly any model can be turned off. 

Summertime at your house means everyone wants a shower not quite as hot as during the cool seasons, you can bump down the temperature of the hot water heater a few degrees and save money on electricity or whatever fuels the heater.

While we are on the subject of hot water – did you know it is actually BETTER to wash most clothes in cold or cool water? Hot water breaks down the dyes in dark clothes and in general it wears out fabric faster. Some stains actually do not respond to hot water at all. Modern detergents are manufactured to work with cold water – save yourself a little money and help your clothing last longer by switching to cold or cool water.