Green Solutions & Alternatives

Outdoor Watering Solutions

• Have a leaky watering hose?  Utilize a watering hose o-ring to prevent leaks.  A package of hose o-rings can be bought at most home & garden centres for an average cost of $5, or pop by the Conservation Educator table at Town events throughout the summer and pick some up for free.
• A hose timer can also be used to reduce outdoor water usage. Generally, timers can be programmed from 5 minutes up to 120 minutes.  Timers can be purchased for an average cost of about $20-$25 at most home and garden centres.
                                                                                          
• Rain sensors can be installed on Irrigation Systems to prevent excess outdoor water usage.  Rain sensors generally range from $40 -  $250, and can be bought at most garden hardware stores.  It is highly recommended to have rain sensors installed by a professional contractor to ensure ideal placement.

                      
                       Courtesy of Walco Sprinklers

Rain Water Solutions

• Rain barrels can be effectively utilized to catch and store rainwater, for the purposes of outdoor watering.  For more information about Rain Barrels and installation, click here.
• Rain Gauges can be utilized to measure the amount of rain that has fallen, to determine if you need to water at all! Rain gauges can be purchased for an average of $10-$20 at most home and garden centres. Turf only needs 1 inch of water per week to thrive. Utilize a rain gauge or frisbee to measure. 

Leaky Toilet Solutions

• Toilet tabs are useful to determine if a toilet is leaking.  Toilet tabs, or a few drops of blue food colouring, can be dropped into the toilet tank, and after a few minutes the water will change colour if there is a leak.
• A package of toilet tabs can be purchased for an average cost of $10 at most home and hardware centres, or stop by the Conservation Educator table at Town events throughout the summer and pick some up for free.

For more information about water or toilet leaks, please refer to the Useful Links & Resources Section.  

Household Solutions

• Low-flow faucets and showerheads are great household products to install in your home.  Both of these products generally keep the same water pressure by aerating the water, while heavily reducing water consumption.   Low-flow showerheads can be purchased for an average cost of $40, while low-flow faucets can be purchased for an average cost of $50.  Both can be bought at most hardware stores. Look for WaterSense® Certified faucets!
• WaterSense^® Certified High-Efficiency low-flow toilets can significantly reduce water consumption in your home.  On average, WaterSense^® Certified toilets average 4.8 litres per flush, compared to their counterparts that use 6 or more litres per flush. These toilets can be purchased for an average cost of $200 and can be bought at most hardware stores.
                                                                                                 

Powering off Appliances & Lights

• One major way to reduce energy usage in your home is powering off appliances and lights when not in use.  By taking a few short minutes to walk around your home to unplug unnecessary appliances and turn off unused lights, you are able to save a large amount of money on your power bill!

Changing Light bulbs

• In many homes, light bulbs can act as a large source of heat and energy consumption.  By switching to light emitting diodes (LED) in your home, you are able to save money and energy. 
• Remember: Compact Fluorescent Lighting (CFL) can be taken to the Eco-Centre for disposal.  Traditional incandescent light bulbs can be placed in your black cart for pickup.

Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit Kit

• The Town of Okotoks now offers a Do-It-Yourself Home Energy Audit Kit with the tools and basic instructions to provide enough information on how to conduct a basic home energy audit by yourself. The kits are available at the Okotoks Municipal Centre for a 7-day loan free of charge.  The DIY Home Energy Audit Kit comes with a E8 Thermal Camera, Kill-A-Watt Meter, Radon Monitor, and an LED Lightbulb.
  
• For more information about the DIY Home Energy Audit Kit, please refer to the Useful Links & Resources section.

Install Programmable Thermostats

• Programmable Thermostats are a great way to save energy and money, by keeping your home at an ideal temperature at all times.  Programmable Thermostats range in price from $90 - $400, and can be purchased at most home and hardware centres.

• The Alberta Government, through Energy Efficiency Alberta, offers several household energy rebates, including a $100 rebate towards the purchase of programmable thermostats.  Visit Energy Efficiency Alberta for more information about the Provincial energy rebates.

Water Conservation In Your Yard:

YOUR LAWN 

YOUR GARDEN 

YOUR POOL, HOT TUB OR WATER FEATURE 

USE A RAIN BARREL 

Water Conservation Inside Your Home:

WHAT NOT TO FLUSH 

BATHROOM TIPS

KITCHEN TIPS

LAUNDRY ROOM TIPS 

YOUR HOT WATER TANK 

Fixing Water Leaks & Leaky Toilets:

Simple Water Calculator

REPAIRING TOILETS

LEAKY TOILET TEST

WATER LEAKS & BASIC REPAIRS

Additional Water Conservation Links

Various Conservation Technologies

Water Efficiency & Conservation 

Energy Conservation Inside Your Home:

Okotoks DIY Energy Audit Kit

HOUSEHOLD ENERGY USAGE

SAVING MONEY BY TURNING OFF LIGHTS

10 EASY WAYS TO SAVE ENERGY AT HOME