Don't Be a Drip-Save Those Drops!
Kitchen and bathroom faucets account for over 10,000 gallons of water a year per household, one of the top four uses of indoor water. Much of this is wasted, as many older faucets use between three and seven gallons per minute. This inefficiency drives up water, sewer, and energy bills. If your faucets are more than ten years old, odds are they're water hogs. If you still like them--or simply don't want to deal with the cost and hassle of installing new ones--there's a lovably low-tech solution:
faucet aerators.
Aerators are small devices that attach to the faucet to reduce water flow to 2.0, 1.5 or 1.0 gallons per minute at normal pressures. While they reduce the amount of water used, they also often make the flow more forceful and provide more effective wetting and rinsing. Installation couldn't be easier. Aerators simply screw onto the faucet head, usually after removing the existing screen. That's it. You can buy them at most hardware stores, home improvement centers, online, or at energy-conservation outlets. They typically cost between $0.50 and $3.00. You'd be hard pressed to find a wiser three-dollar investment.