You can save money and energy when you reduce the amount of hot water used in your household.

Showers and faucets
Showers are where it's at . . . where the most hot water in a house is used, at least. The typical home uses 37 percent of its hot water in the shower. To eliminate hot water waste, follow these tips:

• Repair leaky showerheads
• Turn off the water while you shave
• Install low-flow showerheads
• Take showers instead of baths; short showers use less water than baths

Dishwashers
The biggest cost of operating a dishwasher comes from the energy required to heat the water before it ever makes it to your dishes. Heating water for a dishwasher can represent 80 percent of the energy required to run it; to cut down on that amount, follow these tips:

• Only wash full loads
• Use the "air dry" setting and other power-saving features on your dishwasher.
• Use the "cycle" setting if offered; it uses less energy

Washing machines
Like dishwashers, much of the cost of operating it comes from the energy used to heat the water. To reduce hot water consumption in your clothes washer, follow these tips:

• Wash only full loads
• Rinse in cold water