3 Ways to Save Energy While Increasing Hand Washing

With the Coronavirus continuing to spread across our state and nation, most of us have probably increased our hand washing quite a bit.  If you are like me, your hands are dry and cracked and they sting whenever hand sanitizer is applied.  Not only that, but the majority of us are now spending all of our time in our homes.  Kids are no longer at school during the day, adults are working from home, and your college student has moved out of his or her dorm room early this year.

With the combination of extra people at home during the day and an increase in hand washing, you may be wondering how this will impact your water bill.  We have enough to worry about right now without adding one more concern to the list, so thankfully, you can still be vigilant about your health and save energy.

3 Ways to Save Energy While Increasing Hand Washing

1. Turn Off the Water While Scrubbing

By now we all probably know that the CDC recommends scrubbing your hands with soap and water for at least 20 seconds.  However, the water does not need to remain running during that scrubbing time.  Simply turn on the water to wet your hands then turn it off.  Apply the soap and scrub while counting to 20 or sing through “Happy Birthday” twice.  Then, turn the water back on to thoroughly rinse.

The CDC states, “Turning off the faucet after wetting hands saves water, and there are few data to prove whether significant numbers of germs are transferred between hands and the faucet.”

2. Use Cold Water

But, wait, doesn’t hot water clean better?  When it comes to germs, not necessarily.  According to the CDC, “The temperature of the water does not appear to affect microbe removal….”  They go on to explain that using warm water is harsher on your skin and less environmentally friendly.  So, save some energy by using cold water to wash.

3. Save in Other Areas

Since your water usage may be a little bit higher during this time, take the opportunity to cut back in other areas.  Temperatures are warming up and the days are staying lighter for longer, which means you may be able to turn down the heat at times and keep the lights off during the day.

At FLAME we continue to pray for the health and safety of all of our customers and the rest of the world impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic.  Please don’t hesitate to contact us regarding any heating, cooling, plumbing, or electrical needs.