A garden hose can use seven to 10 gallons of water per minute. Sweeping or raking means...

Here's a good rainy day project: Collecting water-from a roof, driveway, or other hard surface during a rainfall - and channeling it into a rain barrel or other container to be saved for use in landscaping or in the household. Harvested rainwater has the potential for huge freshwater savings: It's estimated that the average American uses 80-100 gallons of water a day. Depending on the setup and the typical rainfall in your region, most or all of your water can be harvested. Harvested rainwater is sometimes used as potable water, too, but it typically must be filtered and/or chemically treated first; local health departments can provide more information on those requirements. Also called rainwater harvesting.

Wrapping a water heater in insulation can save 4-9 percent in water heating costs. If the tank...