Get with the Flow: Conserve Water

MOORESVILLE, N.C.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The average household spends as much as $500 per year on water and sewer bills and uses about 100 gallons of water each day, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. In addition to taking shorter showers and only washing full loads of laundry, increase your water savings and decrease expenses by tackling a few simple projects around the home with help from Lowe's, the 2009 ENERGY STAR(R) Retail Partner of the Year.

CONSERVE A DROP INSIDE

Knock off a third of your annual water costs by incorporating easy fixes and adjustments indoors.

    --  Consider using an energy-efficient qualifying washer and use about 55%
        less water, saving up to 7,000 gallons. Lowe's stores have more ENERGY
        STAR(R) Major Appliances in stock than any other national big box
        retailer. In addition, Lowes is ranked "Highest in Customer Satisfaction
        among the Largest Appliance Retailers" by J.D. Power and Associates.
    --  Install a WaterSense(R)-labeled Price Pfister Brushed Nickel Bathroom
        Faucet (Item #290886, $122), which can reduce a sink's water flow by 30
        percent without sacrificing performance. Installing these throughout the
        average home can save more than 500 gallons of water each year - the
        equivalent of 8,000 cups of coffee or 12 loads of laundry.
    --  Replace toilets installed before 2000 with the Jacuzzi Espree WaterSense
        (R) Toilet (Item #48624, $198), which uses 20 percent less water. In
        just two years, a WaterSense(R) -labeled toilet will pay for itself
        through utility savings and can save a family of four more than 16,000
        gallons of water each year.
    --  Avoid water waste in the shower by investing in a Moen Nurture
        Showerhead (Item #82415, $27.98). A low-flow showerhead uses about 2.5
        gallons of water per minute (GPM) as opposed to 6 GPM from old
        showerheads.
    --  Double the efficiency of a kitchen faucet made before 1994 by installing
        a low-flow aerator. This quick, cost-efficient project - along with a
        change in habits - can save hundreds of gallons a year.

GET SOAKED IN SAVINGS OUTDOORS

Use less water outdoors this summer while keeping landscaping looking hydrated and well-maintained.

    --  Fill planters, window boxes and landscaped areas with WaterWise plants,
        which can survive without constant watering. Choose from a variety of
        annuals and perennials, including Lantana, Purple Fountain Grass,
        Zinnias and Oriental Poppies.
    --  Promote a lush, emerald-green lawn with Pennington's Smart Seed (Item
        #289569, $11.97), which requires less water than traditional seed
        varieties.
    --  Water the yard during the morning or evening when outdoor temperatures
        are cooler, which will minimize evaporation.
    --  Help retain moisture by using mulch around landscaping and by using
        Sta-Green Moisture Max Potting Soil 16 Quart (Item #236310, $4.97) which
        has an exclusive AquaGuard water control formula that absorbs excess
        moisture to reduce the frequency of watering.
    --  Install a drip irrigation system like Mister Landscaper Starter Kit
        (Item #71218, $29.97), which can reduce water usage by up to 50 percent
        when properly maintained. The low-pressure, low-volume delivery system
        will help maximize water resources while getting the most from plants by
        keeping roots moist. By combining with a water timer to automate your
        system and protect your landscape investment, you'll also recapture
        precious minutes throughout the week.

Visit Lowes.com/Videos for Water-Saving How-To Videos, Lowes.com/EfficientHome for more ideas on conserving water throughout the home, or Lowe's stores in the United States and Canada.

About Lowe's

With fiscal year 2008 sales of $48.2 billion, Lowe's Companies, Inc. is a FORTUNE(R) 50 company that serves approximately 14 million customers a week at more than 1,675 home improvement stores in the United States and Canada. Founded in 1946 and based in Mooresville, N.C., Lowe's is the second-largest home improvement retailer in the world. For more information, visit Lowes.com.

    Source: Lowe's