Much of your home depends on water. From the kitchen to the bathroom, but also outdoors - we are reliant on water. But how does that impact your energy use? For starters, a cold shower or cold water to wash dishes is not ideal, or practical. Indiana Michigan Power (I&M) offers tips for customers to keep energy efficiency 'flowing' when it comes to effective water use at home.

Each home uses energy, and water, different. By completing a home energy profile, you can personalize your home's profile and habits to access custom saving tips. These efficiency tips will apply to areas of your home, like how you use water, to prompt potential savings.

Some of these tips can include:

• Heating water requires an increased amount of energy. Taking shorter showers or filling the dishwasher completely full before starting, can take less heated water and make what is used more effective.
• Have a leaky faucet? Take time to fix it or call a professional to do the job. Leaks in faucets can increase energy consumption by causing a water heater to work harder for more usable water.
• When working through a mountain of laundry, use the appropriate setting on your washer. Cold water can be just as effective in cleaning clothes as hot water. Before starting the machine, also make sure it is fully loaded and on a level surface.  
• Finally, consider installing a faucet aerator. This small, circular device attaches to the end of a faucet and helps conserve water through a splash-free flow. Installing these can promote energy savings without impacting performance of your faucet.  

Looking to switch to more energy efficient appliances and devices? I&M's Marketplace can help customers make informed purchase decisions, like on shower heads and electric water heaters, to become more energy efficient at home. A full list of items is available on the Marketplace website.

Continue your energy savings throughout the year, browse tips, products, rebates and discounts by visiting www.ElectricIdeas.com. Stay ahead on energy-saving ideas with I&M’s Energy Smart newsletter. Inscríbase (link at the bottom of the page) to receive this monthly communication straight to your inbox and get a jumpstart on your energy-saving goals.